UK: Freightliner has taken delivery of the first 40 of 230 FFA-G 40ft intermodal wagons which it said were the culmination of 2½ years of work across four countries with partners Greenbrier Europe and Wabtec Axiom Rail.
The Polish-built wagons are more than 2 tonnes lighter per platform than competing designs, and fitted with low track force bogies to reduce noise and minimise track damage. Freightliner estimates that the weight saving and closely coupling will offer a 7% reduction in carbon emissions compared to other rail services, or a 78% reduction compared to road transport.
The wagons have a working deck height of 980 mm. They have wider W10 network gauge clearance than other 40 ft designs, with route acceptance for the entire W10 network when carrying a 9 ft 6 in high ISO container
‘As the first Freight Operating Company to develop standard-height 40 ft platform wagons, and the first to introduce the Shortliner (Ecofret) wagon, Freightliner has a proud history of setting the standards for innovative and sustainable wagon solutions in the UK’, said the operator’s Managing Director of UK Rail Tim Shakerley. ‘As the largest intermodal rail freight operator with the largest offering of electrically hauled freight services in the UK, Freightliner is committed to driving decarbonisation, which is at the heart of our strategic focus and aligns us directly with customer expectations.
‘The FFA-G wagon further enhances the environmental benefits of rail and makes an even greater contribution to bringing all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.’
