VTG Rail UK has announced a 15-year contract renewal with Breedon Group plc for the lease of 72 JPA powder tank wagons, reinforcing a long-standing partnership rooted in sustainable rail logistics.

A defining feature of the renewed agreement is the retrofitting of all 72 wagons with VTG’s iWagon technology, which provides real-time tracking, data-driven safety monitoring, and operational performance insights. The upgrade is expected to help Breedon streamline its logistics operations and improve efficiency and sustainability across its supply chain.

Image source: VTG Rail

Matt Hannant, VTG Rail UK’s head of sales & marketing, said the agreement demonstrated the enduring value of rail freight. “By equipping their existing JPA fleet with iWagon technology, we’re combining long-term commitment with cutting-edge data insight — driving smarter, safer and more sustainable benefits across their supply chain for years to come,” he said.

The 72 wagons are purpose-built for bulk cement transportation, each fitted with TF25A low-noise, track-friendly bogies and capable of carrying an 81-tonne payload at a gross laden weight of 101 tonnes. Based at Breedon’s Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire, the fleet supplies more than 1.5 million tonnes of cement annually to construction and infrastructure projects across the United Kingdom, distributing product to Breedon’s network of satellite rail depots.

The renewal builds on the successful deployment of the first 18 new-build JPA iWagons, which entered service in January as part of a broader order for 62 new wagons fitted with the technology. The remaining 44 wagons are scheduled to enter service across Breedon’s core rail network routes over the next ten months.