Independent railway wagon manufacturer WH Davis has been awarded a 44 million EUR export deal for the supply of 150 freight wagons for Ireland.
The deal has been made possible with support from UK Export Finance (UKEF) as part of its Bond Support Scheme, and will see the manufacturer provide up to 400 wagons in a contract representing the first order under a 10-year framework agreement.
Delivery of the wagons is expected to begin in summer 2026, with all wagons in service by the end of 2027.
Production will be handled by WH Davis’ Shirebrook manufacturing site and facilitate an expansion of the company’s workforce of 25% – taking the company’s total number of employees from 80 to 100.
Andy Houghton, Managing Director of WH Davis, said:We are proud to be shaping the future of rail freight with this landmark export contract. This is a significant milestone for WH Davis and reaffirms the strength of UK manufacturing on the international stage. UKEF’s support has given us the confidence and liquidity to deliver on our ambitions and explore new export internationally.
WH Davis’ new wagons will offer a third more carrying capacity, with a maximum speed of 110 km/h (an increase from the previous fleet at 80 km/h).
With the securing of the contract; WH Davis – part of Buckland Rail – is now seeking to expand operations and prepare for future orders under the agreement.
