Davis Wagon Services, a provider of maintenance solutions to the rail freight industry in the UK, has celebrated the tenth anniversary of its maintenance management contract with Drax, by signing an extension of the deal. The energy corporation, best known for their power generating complex of the same name in North Yorkshire, England, has been using bespoke biomass wagons throughout the decade, manufactured by the sister company, WH Davis. DWS remains confirmed as the Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM) for Drax.

Over the past decade, Davis Wagon Services, headquartered at Immingham in Lincolnshire, on the east coast of England, has played a crucial role for Drax. They have ensured high availability of the fleet of biomass carrier wagons used to feed the insatiable appetite of the furnaces at the Drax power station complex. The generating complex, which is a landmark on the North Yorkshire skyline, was originally built as a coal-fired power station, fed from nearby collieries. Now, as a mainly biomass-burning facility, feed stock is brought in by a constant merry-go-round of trains.

Continuous improvement

Davis Wagon Services has provided a comprehensive range of maintenance services to Drax, including routine inspections, repairs, equipment upgrades, and safety enhancements. With a highly skilled team of technicians and cutting-edge technologies, DWS has consistently delivered efficient and reliable maintenance solutions, contributing to Drax’s uninterrupted operations. Even during a flooding event in early 2020, the biomass trains kept running, ensuing the delivery of power to the UK energy grid.

“Our anniversary as the Entity in Charge of Maintenance for Drax is a significant milestone. It represents a decade of successful collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement”, said John Hall, managing director of Davis Wagon Services, in a statement released by the company. “We value our long-standing partnership with Drax, built on trust, professionalism, and shared values, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship in the future.”

Bespoke repurposing

Established alongside WH Davis Ltd, the last independent freight rolling stock manufacturer in the UK, Davis Wagon Services shares its sister company’s extensive expertise and experience in the railway industry. DWS offers a wide range of maintenance and refurbishment services to a variety of clients. The companies have built a strong reputation for high-quality manufacturing, and bespoke repurposing of rolling stock, particularly freight wagons, such as those employed to serve the biomass logistics operations for Drax.

“Davis Wagon Services has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise and unwavering commitment to the highest maintenance standards”, said Mark Gibbens, head of logistics at Drax. “Their contributions have been invaluable in ensuring the reliability, safety, and longevity of our rail operation.” Together with their head office at Immingham, the company has nine outstations around the UK to provide maintenance and repairs across the network.