GB Railfreight

GB Railfreight[1] is a rail freight company in the United Kingdom. It is owned by EQT Partners through its subsidiary holding company Hector Rail. Ownership is scheduled to pass to Infracapital in October 2019.

GB Railfreight
IndustryRail
Founded1 April 1999
FounderGB Railways
Headquarters
London
,
England
Key people
John Smith (Managing Director)
ServicesFreight operating company
OwnerInfracapital
Websitewww.gbrailfreight.com

History
Class 66 in First GBRf livery at Doncaster station in September 2007
First GBRf logo

GB Railfreight was founded in 1999 by GB Railways.[2] Unlike competitors DB Cargo UK and Freightliner, the company was not formed from parts of the privatised British Rail freight sectors.

In April 2000, after winning an eight-year contract to operate infrastructure trains for Railtrack, GB Railfreight ordered seven Class 66 locomotives.[3][4] An operator's licence was granted in July 2000.[5] Operations commenced on 1 April 2001.[6] In February 2002, GBRf commenced operating its first Intermodal container contract from the Port of Felixstowe for MSC Mendite.[7] Also in 2002, GBRf began its first bulk freight contract for British Gypsum.[8]

In August 2003, GB Railways was purchased by FirstGroup and GB Railfreight was rebranded First GBRf.[9][10][11] In April 2004, GB Railfreight commenced operating a five year contract for Network Rail with four Gatwick Express Class 73 locomotives.[12]

In May 2005, First GBRf began operating Royal Mail services using Class 325s.[13][14] This was later extended until 2010.[15][16] Also in 2005, GBRf commenced operating London Underground infrastructure trains for Metronet.[8][17] In March 2007, First GBRf commenced operating coal trains for Drax Group and EDF Energy.[18][19][20][21]

In June 2007, the business was renamed First GBRf.[22][23]

In 2009, First GBRf was granted a passenger licence allowing it to operate charter services.[24] Between December 2009 and July 2010, First GBRf operated passenger services under contract to First Great Western. The services from Cardiff Central to Taunton operated with hired Virgin Trains Class 57/3s hauling Mark 2 carriages.[25][26][27]

Logo while under Europorte ownership

In May 2010, FirstGroup put the business up for sale. Europorte, Freightliner and SNCF were reported as being interested in the company.[28] The company was purchased by Europorte, on 1 June 2010.[29][30] Following the acquisition by Europorte, the company reverted to its original name and a revised version of the original livery.

In February 2011, GBRf commenced operation of rail traffic at Cardiff Tidal/Tremorfa Works.[31][32] In 2012, GBRf commenced a ten-year contract to operate the 43-mile (69 km) rail network at Sahavirirya Steel Industries Lackenby steelworks, Teesside.[33]

In April 2015, GB Railfreight commenced a contract to haul the Caledonian Sleeper. Class 92s haul it from London Euston to Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central with rebuilt Class 73/9s to haul it from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William.[34]

GB Railfreight were contracted to deliver Class 700 electric multiple-units, constructed by Siemens in Krefeld, Germany, from the Channel Tunnel; they have also been contracted to haul Class 800/801s. The latter will involve GBRf providing crews for the testing of the trains as well as hauling the sets.[35][36]

In October 2016, the business was purchased by EQT Partners, to be operated as part of the Hector Rail operation internationally.[37] In September 2019, EQT Partners announced it had agreed to sell the business to Infracapital, with the transaction scheduled for completion in October.[38]

Fleet

To commence operations, seven Class 66/7s were ordered.[39] Subsequent orders brought the total purchased to 72 by the end of 2014[40] with a further seven delivered in 2016.

In October 2012 three unused Class 66s, ordered by Crossrail Benelux but stabled in the Netherlands, were purchased and, later in 2013, a further two Class 66s that were previously in service in Europe were also obtained.[41] These were numbered 66747 to 66751 in the GBRf fleet.

GB Railways initially purchased six former Gatwick Express Class 73s. After GBRf won a contract to operate Network Rail infrastructure trains in the south -east, four were overhauled by Fragonset Railways.[42] Subsequently, additional Class 73s were located and purchased, some from preservation, to give a total fleet (at July 2018) of 24 locomotives. Of these, eleven were completely re-engineered in 2014 and 2015, equipped with 1600 hp MTU diesel power units, with five dedicated to Network Rail infrastructure traffic in the south of England, the remaining six being transferred to Scotland for use on the diesel-hauled legs of the Caledonian Sleeper services.

GB Railfreight has 16 Class 92 locomotives acquired by Europorte before the purchase of GB Railfreight.[43]

GB Railfreight has also utilised heritage diesel locomotives. Class 20s are used on London Underground S Stock moves between Derby Litchurch Lane Works, Old Dalby Test Track and London Underground's Neasden Depot. It hires these from various owners including Harry Needle Railroad Company. In mid-2014 five Class 47s were hired from Riviera Trains for a short period.[44][45]

GBRf has also hired in preserved locomotives, including Class 55 "Deltic" no. 55022 "Royal Scots Grey" and Class 52 "Western" no. D1015 "Western Champion".[46][47][48][49][50][51]

GB Railfreight also had a pair of refurbished Vanguard 0-6-0DH locos (re-numbered DH50-1 and DH50-2) for use at Tremorfa/Cardiff Tidal works.[52] In December 2016, these were returned to Hunslet in favour of class 08 hired in from Harry Needle Railroad Company.

To operate services on the Lackenby steelworks, Teesside network, eight 1996/97 built Maschinenbau Kiel built locomotives were purchased from Norwegian State Railways. They were classed as Di8.[33]

In August 2014 GBRf purchased 59003 from Heavy Haul Power International, Germany.[53][54] This locomotive had originally been purchased by the Foster Yeoman group (along with its sister locomotives 59001/002/004/005), these being the first privately owned locomotives to operate under British Rail.

In 2015 it was confirmed a further seven Class 66s would be purchased. Even though the locomotive type no longer conforms with emissions regulations, GBRf had purchased some spare EMD 710 engines, shipped them to the United Kingdom before the 31 December 2014 deadline and then returned them to the United States for fitting to the new locomotives to be delivered in 2016.[55][56]

In late 2017 DB Cargo UK sold ten Class 66/0s (66008/016/046/058/081/132/141/184/238/250) to GBRf, who allocated the 66780-789 series to them in ascending order. 66789 (formerly 66250), was outshopped in BR Large Logo Blue and named "British Rail 1948-1997" to commemorate BR's 70th Anniversary. They also acquired three Class 47/7s from Colas Rail, for use on Caledonian sleeper and stock move duties (47727, 47739, 47749)[57]

GBRF hauled container train

In June 2018 GBRf acquired 16 of the Class 56 locomotives owned by UK Rail Leasing, together with various parts.[58] Some may be returned to traffic quickly whilst others may be re-engineered. The locomotives were previously owned by DB Cargo and subsequently hired to Fertis for high speed rail construction trains in France; after their return to the UK they were acquired by UK Rail Leasing in 2014 for spot hire. Only 56081, 56098 and 56104 had been made operational by UKRL, with the majority stored at Leicester depot.[59]

Also in 2018 an agreement was reached with Colas Rail for GBRf to acquire all ten Class 60 locomotives that Colas had earlier purchased from DB Cargo (60002/021/026/047/056/076/085/087/095/096). These were to be released in two batches, the five standard fuel tank locomotives (60047/076/085/087/095) during July 2018, followed later in the year by the five extended range locomotives.

In July 2018 GB Railfreight also bought two further Class 73 locomotives 73101 and 73139 from Loram UK.[60]

In January 2019, GB Railfreight received two Class 50 locomotives on loan from the Class 50 Alliance Preservation Group, with both locomotives (50 007 and 50 049) repainted into GBRf livery and returned to service in March 2019.[61]

In June 2019 GB Railfreight acquired a lease on three class 66 locomotives from Beacon Rail, that had previously been in use in Sweden to be numbered 66790-2 (T66403-405). The first locomotive, 66790 (T66403) arrived on 3 June was moved from Immingham Docks to Longport, where Electro-Motive Diesel will convert it to UK standards before it enters traffic. The locomotives date from November 2002, and were bought by Beacon Rail in 2009 from HSBC Rail.[62]

Fleet details
Class Image Type Built Number Wheel Arr Numbers/Notes
Vanguard 0-6-0DH Shunter 2011 2 0-6-0 DH50-1, DH50-2
Class 08 1953 08925, 08934
Class 09 1959 09002, 09009
Class 47 Diesel locomotive 1962-7 3 Co-Co 47727,47739 and 47749.[63]
Class 50 1967 - 1968 2 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance are both repainted into GBRf livery in March 2019.[64]
Class 56 1976 - 1984 18 56007, 009, 018, 031, 032, 037, 038, 060, 065, 069, 077, 081, 098, 104, 106, 128, 311(057), 312(003) Acquired 2018 from UK Rail Leasing and CF Booth (128).[65] Only 56081, 098 & 104 were in operational condition, with the remainder in stored or non running condition. To be rebuilt as Class 69s.[66]
Class 59 1985 1 59003 Yeoman Highlander purchased from Heavy Haul Power International, Germany[53][54]
Class 60 1989 10 60002, 021, 026, 047, 056, 076, 085, 087, 095, 096. Acquired from Colas Rail in 2018.[67]
Class 66 2000-2015 91 66701-33, 735-92
66734 since scrapped. Cut up on site at Loch Treig.[68]
66780-89 were purchased from DB Cargo in late 2017, and renumbered from the 66/0 series.[69]
66790-792 were leased from Beacon Rail in June 2019 formerly operating in Sweden as T66403-405.[62]
Class 73 Electro-diesel locomotive 1962, 1965-7 24 Bo-Bo 73107, 109, 119, 128, 136, 141, 201, 212, 213, 961-971
Stored - 73101, 110, 134, 139.
Class 92 Electric locomotive 1993-1996 16 Co-Co Operational (12): 92006, 010, 014, 018, 020, 023, 028, 032–033, 038, 043–044
Stored (4): 021, 040. 045, 046 (at Brush, Loughborough)
Total 169
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References
  1. Companies House extract company no 3707899 GB Railfreight Limited
  2. Schabas, Michael (October 2003). Memorandum by GB Railfreight. Hansard (Report). Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  3. "GBR orders 66 fleet for Railtrack contract" Rail issue 382 3 May 2000 page 5
  4. "GB Rail signs freight contract with Railtrack" The Railway Magazine issue 1190 June 2000 page 10
  5. "GB Railfreight given licence" Rail issue 388 26 July 2000 page 4
  6. "GB Railfreight signs deal with West Coast Traincare" Rail issue 406 4 April 2001 page 13
  7. "GBRf starts container service to Selby" The Railway Magazine issue 1212 April 2002 page 95
  8. "Making sure the mail on rail doesn't fail" Rail issue 609 14 January 2009 page 50
  9. "GB Rail Offer Unconditional". Corporate News (Press release). FirstGroup plc. 14 August 2003. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  10. "First Group buys GB for $22million" The Railway Magazine issue 1229 September 2003 page 10
  11. "GB Railways is bought by First Group for £22 million" Rail Express issue 88 September 2003 page 8
  12. "Network Rail hands GBRf more work: Class 73s acquired, wagons bought" Rail Express issue 94 March 2004 page 8
  13. "Mail to move by rail again". GB Railfreight News (Press release). 18 October 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  14. "Mail back on rail: GBRf wins postal contract" The Railway Magazine issue 1244 December 2004 page 4
  15. "GB Railfreight wins Royal Mail contract". GB Railfreight News (Press release). 20 May 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  16. "FirstGBRf wins new contact (sic) with Royal Mail". GB Railfreight News (Press release). 15 June 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  17. "Welcome back Finedon Road Yard" Rail Express issue 122 July 2006 page 3
  18. "GBRF wins first coal contract" Today's Railways UK issue 54 July 2006 page 15
  19. "GB Railfreight expands into coal" Rail Express issue 122 July 2006 page 7
  20. "GBRf enters coal market" The Railway Magazine issue 1264 August 2006 page 6
  21. "GBRf aims to be first for freight" Rail issue 603 22 October 2008 pages 38-42
  22. "More new locos and wagons ordered as GB Railfreight becomes FirstGBRf" Rail Express issue 134 July 2007 page 7
  23. "GB Railfreight becomes FirstGBRf" The Railway Magazine issue 1276 August 2007 page 76
  24. "GBRf expands operations with charter trips" Rail issue 645 2 June 2010 page 34
  25. First Great Western Archived 12 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Taunton Trains
  26. "First GBRf takes over on FGW Taunton diagram" Rail Express issue 164 January 2010 page 7
  27. "First GBRf to operate FGW contract" The Railway Magazine issue 1306 February 2010 page 61
  28. Barnard, Bruce (3 May 2010). "European Rivals Bid for GB Railfreight". The Journal of Commerce. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  29. "Eurotunnel buys GB Railfreight from FirstGroup". Railway Gazette International. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  30. "Eurotunnel buys GBRf" The Railway Magazine issue 1312 August 2010 page 10
  31. Bray, Martin (14 December 2011). "Cardiff Tidal Sidings". Tidal, Margam & Canton. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  32. "GB Railfreight takes over at Cardiff Tidal Yard" Rail Express issue 179 April 2011 page 50
  33. "GBRf buys Norwegian locos for steelworks". The Railway Magazine (1329): 85. January 2012.
  34. "The Sleepers are stirring" Rail issue 756 3 September 2014 page 70
  35. "GBRf wins IEP test contract for Class 800/801 trains". The Railway Magazine (1351): 80. November 2013.
  36. "IEP trains to undergo night testing on East Coast line". Rail (738): 16. 25 December 2013.
  37. EQT completes acquisition of GB Railfreight Railway Gazette International 16 November 2016
  38. Hector Rail sells GB Railfreight to Infracapital Railway Gazette International 23 September 2019
  39. "GB Railways Class 66s" The Railway Magazine issue 1188 April 2000 page 11
  40. "GBRf welcomes the first five of 21 new 66s onto UK soil" Rail issue 753 23 July 2014 page 28
  41. "GBRf to Bring Trio of Euro 66s to Britain" The Railway Magazine issue 1340 December 2012 page 11
  42. "New lease of life for GB Railways Class 73s" The Railway Magazine issue 1236 April 2004 page 67
  43. "GBRf spends £50m on new Class 66/7s and Class 92s" Rail issue 741 5 February 2014 page 6
  44. "More Riviera Trains 47s lined up for GBRf duties" Rail issue 750 11 June 2014 page 28
  45. "Three 47s on hire to GBRf" Today's Railways UK issue 152 August 2014 page 62
  46. GB Railfreight hires 55022 Royal Scots Grey 10 April 2011
  47. "Deltic joins GBRf fleet" The Railway Magazine issue 1322 June 2011 page 9
  48. "GBRf hires Deltic to haul EMUs" Rail issue 722 page 15 May 2013 page 35
  49. "GBRf hires a Western to haul Midlands freight" The Railway Magazine issue 1353 December 2013 page 7
  50. "First a Deltic, now a Western for GBRf" Today's Railways UK issue 145 January 2014 page 61
  51. "D1015 to stay with GBRf" Railways Illustrated February 2014 page 8
  52. Trotter, Phil. "Industrial Diesel & Electric Locomotives" (photo gallery annotation). Retrieved 18 October 2012. GBRf's DH50-1 … to replace ageing class 08s here with reconditioned industrial locomotives; … as rebuild no. 9376 of 2011.
  53. GB Railfreight brings hardy 'Yeoman Highlander' back to the UK GB Railfreight 19 August 2014
  54. Yeoman Highlander to return to the UK Archived 18 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express 20 August 2014
  55. "More Class 66s for GB Railfreight to arrive next year?" Rail issue 764 24 December 2014 page 15
  56. "Loophole sees GBRf order another seven 66s" Today's Railways UK issue 158 February 2015 page 54
  57. "GB Railfreight buys three Class 47s". Rail. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  58. "GB Railfreight buys 16 Class 56s from UK Rail Leasing". Rail. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  59. "UK Rail Leasing launch Class 56 fleet back into main line service". www.rail.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  60. "GB Railfreight buys more locomotives". Rail. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  61. GBRf to use repainted Class 50s for spot-hire work Rail issue 871 30 January 2019 page 32
  62. "First of three Swedish '66s' arrives for GB Railfreight". Rail. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  63. Colas 47s sold to GB Railfreight Rail Express issue 260 January 2018 page 13
  64. Class 50s unveiled in GB Railfreight livery The Railway Magazine issue 1417 April 2019 page 7
  65. GBRf purchases 56s from UK Rail Leasing Today's Railways UK issue 200 August 2018 page 62
  66. GB Railfreight to repower GB Railfreight locomotives Railway Gazette International 3 April 2019
  67. GBRf leases former Colas Class 60s Today's Railways UK issue 262 October 2018 page 62
  68. Marsh, Stuart. "Written-off!". Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  69. GB Railfreight takes on DB rejects Rail Express issue 259 December 2017 page 94
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