Wagons roll from Poland to Stoke-on-Trent

DB Cargo UK and DB Cargo Polska are set to collaborate on a wagon refurbishment programme. The project is supporting operations in the UK. The sister companies are to combine their collective experience in the field of reengineering rolling stock. The project will breathe new life into 60 “BCA” designated wagons for one of the group’s biggest customers, Tata Steel.

An agreement has been reached, which will see DB Cargo Polska manufacture new wagon frames. Work is underway at the state-of-the-art engineering facility in Rybnik, in the south of Poland, near the border with the Czech Republic. The frames will then be sent to the UK for final fitting and assembly at DB Cargo UK’s wagon maintenance facility at Stoke.

Important project

The 60 refurbished wagons, which will be capable of carrying both steel slab and steel coil, are essential to support Tata Steel’s transition in the UK from traditional blast furnace steel production to the use of cleaner and greener electric arc furnaces. The conversion of the steel works at Port Talbot in South Wales has been controversial. The conventional blast furnaces closed last month, but the new arc furnaces will not be ready for at least two years. That means a radical change for rail freight operations and a radical change in cargo overall, as reported in our sister service, Bulk Materials International.

From their Doncaster headquarters in England, DB Cargo UK’s Chief Sales Officer Roger Neary said the collaboration with DB Cargo Polska would play a pivotal role in meeting Tata Steel’s changing demands of rail freight. “This agreement underlines the positive benefits of being part of DB’s large international network of companies, and we are delighted to be working with DB Cargo Polska on such an important project.”

Strict control process

Tata Steel is one of DB Cargo UK’s biggest customers. The steel maker is undergoing major changes to improve its long-term environmental and economic performance. That has major implications for rail freight operations, for which DB Cargo UK has contracts in place. “We are an integral and important part of Tata’s supply chain,” said Roger Neary. “The delivery of these new wagons will play a pivotal role in its smooth transition to green steel production.”

Roger Neary led a delegation from DB Cargo UK to the Rybnik facility. He said they were impressed with their Polish counterpart’s impressive new facility for manufacturing and assembling wagons. This will not be the first contract for the works. Rybnik is already building brand-new wagons for DB Cargo Germany. Neary said strict control processes were in place to ensure a high-quality end product.

First units on the jig

“I am looking forward to the railway industry making a radical technological leap in every area of its activity to grow and be competitive in the transport market,” said DB Cargo Polska’s CEO, Dr Marek Staszek. “Our experienced and highly qualified team answered the challenge and will support our UK colleagues in their strategic project,” he said.

The first new wagon frame off the Polish production line was delivered to Stoke in September, with a further 35 due to be delivered by the end of the year. The remaining wagon frames will be delivered in the first quarter of 2025.