Irish Rail, the national rail operator, has finalized the €44 million deal with UK-based company WH Davis for the supply of 150 freight wagons, with deliveries in the 2026–2027 period and long-term option.

Irish Rail to modernize fleet: new freight wagons by 2027
The order has the potential to extend to up to 400 wagons
© Matthew Nichol Photography

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Irish Rail contract and strategic importance

Irish Rail will essentially replace its fleet with the new wagons. The agreement, however, also includes an option for another 250 units in the next ten years, prolonging the operator’s long-term expansion program.

Don’t miss…Battery locomotives for Ukrzaliznytsia: first delivery in Ukraine

At the same time, the total value of the deal was €44 million, while the order is the company’s initial export deal in the last two decades for WH Davis. Therefore, the deal is referred to as a breakthrough on both parts.

Technical features of the new freight wagons

The new freight wagons will have a payload capacity of 62–65 tons with a tare weight of 17–20 tons. The highlight of the development will be the rise in design speed from 80 km/h to 110 km/h, enhancing the efficiency in transportation.

At the same time, Irish Rail is looking forward to the new fleet cutting the time spent on deliveries and improving reliability on core routes. Therefore, the modernization program will play a significant role in sustainable Irish freight haulage development.

About WH Davis

WH Davis is the largest independent constructor of freight wagons in the UK, based in Nottinghamshire. The company is involved with constructing the rolling stock, as well as with providing maintenance services and repairing wagons.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Siemens Mobility and Stadler to Supply New Trains for Berlin

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit