Mark Fletcher MP today welcomed Huw Merriman, Minister for Rail, to visit WH Davis in Langwith Junction.
WH Davis was formed in 1908 as an outfit for repairing and later manufacturing small, wooden-bodied mineral wagons on the railway. Combining quality engineering with the latest technologies and processes, the company has grown throughout the years and is today recognised as the UK’s last remaining independent rail wagon manufacturer.
Huw Merriman MP, the Minister for Rail, visited the business to discuss current challenges the business faces and a have a tour of the facilities to learn more about their work.
The Minister’s visit was part of his UK wide tour that includes business visits, heritage, community rail and rail remembrance projects, as well as community engagement. With the aim of learning more about the challenges facing the rail industry and to promote the important work businesses like WH Davis play in UK rail freight.
Commenting Mark said:
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to welcome the Rail Minister to WH Davis today. They are such an important employer locally and they do a lot of work with our communities in Shirebrook and Langwith.
Supporting local businesses is incredibly important to me and to have such a big manufacturer within our local community is a great source of pride for the Bolsover Constituency. And as the last independent wagon manufacturer left in the UK - I wanted to show the Minister the very best of what our area has to offer”
Andy Houghton, Managing Director, said;
“We were delighted to welcome Huw and Mark today at our manufacturing facility in Shirebrook. It was fantastic to showcase the great work we do here and reassuring to hear their commitment to UK Railfreight and manufacturing”
Les Bryant, Group Engineering Director, added;
“It was great to have Huw and Mark visit us today, and to be able to have a discussion around how WH Davis fits into the rail freight industry and the products we supply into it."
