EWS Industrial, the rail transport specialist moving heavy materials for British industry, will be hauling more steel slabs per train thanks to an increase in the total tonnage loaded per wagon.

Modifications to the loading of the wagons have enabled up to 18 additional tonnes of product to be conveyed per wagon, an increase of 33% on current tonnage levels. Overall, each train will be able to haul an additional 500 tonnes of steel slab than before; injecting a major increase to rail's ability to move more heavy steel by rail.

The larger and heavier trains will operate between Port Talbot in South Wales to Newport.

Neil McDonald, EWS Industrial Managing Director, said: "A key approach of EWS Industrial is increasing its haulage capacity by running longer and heavier trains. The increase in total tonnage hauled per wagon means more freight can be moved for our customers on one train, without the need to operate additional services. This is an excellent use of rail capacity and is the first of a number of significant developments EWS Industrial is taking forward to enable greater volumes of industrial materials to be moved by rail."