DB Cargo UK and its sister company DB Cargo Polska are working together to refurbish 60 BAA wagons for Tata Steel, supporting the company’s £1.25 billion investment into cleaner, greener electric arc furnace steelmaking in the UK.
The wagons, designed to transport steel slab and coil, are essential to Tata Steel’s operational shift from traditional iron and steel production. DB Cargo Polska is manufacturing new 40ft frames for the wagons at its advanced engineering facility in Rybnik, Poland. These are then shipped to DB Cargo UK’s Stoke maintenance depot for final assembly and testing.
The first refurbished wagon entered service in February 2025.
Roger Neary, Chief Sales Officer at DB Cargo UK, said: “This project highlights the strength of DB’s international network. We’re proud to support Tata Steel’s transition to a more sustainable future. These wagons will be central to ensuring a smooth and efficient supply chain as the company transforms its operations.”
Tata Steel is currently undergoing a major transformation, centred around its Port Talbot site in Wales. As traditional iron and steelmaking facilities are decommissioned, steel slab and coil are being imported for processing in the UK. The new wagons will help transport these materials from ports to Port Talbot and can later be converted to carry raw materials for the new electric arc furnace.
Kerys Twinberrow, Deployment Operations Manager for Tata Steel UK, added: “This transition phase is critical to maintaining customer service and supply chain confidence. Having reliable partners like DB Cargo, who invest in long-term solutions, is vital. This wagon refurbishment project is a great example of strategic collaboration that benefits both businesses and the wider UK manufacturing sector.”
