VTG delivered first new-build iWagons for Breedon
posted on 21st Jan 2026 16:06
VTG Rail UK has achieved a major commercial and operational milestone with the arrival and entry into service of the first new build iWagons in the UK, delivered for VTG’s long-standing customer Breedon Group Plc. This marks the first time new-build wagons featuring VTG’s market-leading iWagon technology have entered operational service in the UK since the system’s introduction in spring 2024.
The initial batch of 18 JPA powder tank wagons was delivered to Breedon’s Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire and entered service on 14 January 2026. These wagons are part of a wider order for 62 new-build JPA wagons fitted with iWagon technology, placed by Breedon in November 2024.
Built by Feldbinder at its Wittenberg facility in Germany, the wagons arrived in the UK in early January via the Channel Tunnel before being moved onward to Hope Cement Works for final inspection and handover. This journey marked the first movement of new build iWagons onto the UK rail network. The remaining 44 iWagons on order will be progressively introduced across Breedon’s core rail network routes in similar batches over the next 12 months, further strengthening the company’s ability to support critical construction and infrastructure projects across the UK. The new wagons will replace existing assets.
The wagons are purpose-built for the bulk transportation of cement and are equipped with the Knorr-Bremse FreightControl Sentinel system, which forms the technological backbone of VTG’s iWagon platform. By integrating wheelset flat protection, advanced sensors, real-time data analytics, and automation, iWagon delivers enhanced asset visibility, enabling Breedon to further streamline its logistics operations while improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability across its supply chain.
The delivery marks an important milestone not only for VTG and Breedon, but also for the wider UK rail freight sector, demonstrating the transition from pilot and retrofit activity to fully integrated, new-build digital rolling stock. This order builds on the successful deployment of 51 retrofit iWagons already in operation across VTG’s UK customer fleets, where the technology is delivering measurable safety benefits and operational value in day-to-day service.