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Freightliner (UK)
Encyclopedia
Freightliner Group Limited is a rail freight and logistics company, founded in 1995 and now operating in the United Kingdom
, Poland
, and Australia
. It is the second largest rail freight operator in the UK, after DB Schenker Rail (UK)
.
The origins of the Freightliner concept go back to the mid-1960s with British Rail
under Richard Beeching
. As part of its modernisation and rationalisation programme, British Rail began moving freight using ISO containers on flat wagons between a series of dedicated inland terminals, using gantry cranes for transshipment
between road and rail.
Although initially intended for domestic freight, this was soon overtaken by freight between deep-sea ports, such as Southampton Maritime and inland distribution terminals associated with centres of manufacturing or population, such as Birmingham Lawley Street.
There was also a terminal
which opened at Dudley
, 10 miles (16.1 km) from Birmingham, on the site of the old railway station
in 1967. This proved to be one of the most profitable such terminals in the country, while the Birmingham terminal was ultimately one of the least financially viable. Yet by 1981, Freightliner UK was planning to close the Dudley terminal and transfer its staff to the Birmingham terminal in order to boost the latter's fortunes. However, the Dudley terminal was reprieved in 1983, only for closure plans to re-emerge in 1986. It finally closed in 1989 and the remaining staff were transferred to Birmingham.
In 1995, Freightliner was privatised as a stand-alone company, being bought out by its own management.
In 1999, it set up its "Heavy Haul" business alongside its traditional "Intermodal" container operation. Heavy Haul initially operated railway infrastructure trains moving ballast, rails etc. and later moving into other bulk loads including cement, coal, aggregates and scrap metal.
In 2004, it launched "Logico", providing short-term or one-off spaces on intermodal trains.
Freightliner Group Ltd was acquired by Arcapita
from its previous owners 3i
, Electra Private Equity
on 13 June 2008. Management and staff also hold shares in the company.
, Freightliner was privatised in 1996. The company initially only provided Intermodal services but now have four subsidiary companies, all operating under Freightliner Group Limited. Freightliner provides trunk rail services between key ports and inland rail freight interchanges within the UK, supplemented with local road services. In 1999 the company entered the bulk freight market by forming Freightliner Heavy Haul, which became a limited company
in 2001. Freightliner Heavy Haul operates nationwide in the coal, aggregates, cement, specialist minerals, waste and petroleum sectors. Since then, Freightliner Group has established two new subsidiaries, Freightliner Maintenance Limited, a separate entity dedicated to the repair and maintenance of traction and rolling stock, and their European subsidiary, Freightliner PL Sp. z o.o., which began operations in 2007.
. A subsidiary company, Freightliner PL Sp. z o.o., was established to exploit high volumes of coal traffic and the liberalization of the Polish railway system from the government.
The first train hauled coal from Bogdanka
mine to Kozienice Power Station on September 1, 2007. Freightliner PL operates seven exclusively-ordered EMD JT42CWRM's & 432 Greenbrier coal hopper wagons to transport the coal in Poland. FPL's locomotives and coal wagons have the ability to be interchanged to Germany
. The JT42CWRM's are suitable for slow-speed-starts on long coal trains and can haul other commodities as the Polish Government has granted Freightliner PL to provide passenger and freight services besides coal. Four JT42CWR-T1 locomotives: 66586, 66582, 66583, 66584, & 66625(numbered 66008, 66009, 66010, 66011,& 66601 respectively) were sent from the Freightliner UK fleet to Poland. These units underwent various modifications to meet the requirements of Poland. FPL have also has 3 extra JT42CWR's (former ERS Railways) on hire from HSBC Leasing.
Most of Freightliner PL's services are located in the Gdansk
- Warszawa corridor and southern Poland
.
Freightliner PL and Freightliner UK operate as separate entities, but FPL is retained as a subsidiary to Freightliner UK.
, starting operations in Australia in July 2009 hauling bulk cotton.
In September 2009 mining firm Xstrata Coal
signed a deal with Freightliner Australia to haul export coal in the Hunter Valley
of New South Wales, commencing in late 2010 and allowing Xstrata to avoid the current incumbent rail operators. The 10 C44aci heavy haul locomotives and rollingstock will be purchased outright by Xstrata from manufacturer UGL Rail.
diesel locomotive
s, supplemented by Class 86
and newer Class 90
electric locomotive
s. In order to increase reliability, in 1997–1998, six Class 47 locomotives were rebuilt by Brush Traction
, Loughborough
with General Motors engines and reconditioned alternators, emerging as Class 57
locomotives. A further six locomotives were rebuilt in 1999–2000.
A large fleet of Class 66
has subsequently been acquired from Electro-Motive Diesel.
In November 2007 Freightliner Group announced an order for 30 GE Transportation Systems
JS37ACi locos under a project called Project Genesis. The planned locomotives were given the new project name 'PowerHaul' in 2008 and have been designed with new technology engines and control systems to minimise the levels of carbon emissions produced. These locomotives will receive the TOPS
classification Class 70. Several have already been delivered and are already in service as of May 2010.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is the second largest rail freight operator in the UK, after DB Schenker Rail (UK)
DB Schenker Rail (UK)
DB Schenker Rail , before 2009 known as English, Welsh and Scottish Railway is a British rail freight company. EWS was established by a consortium led by Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation in 1996 by acquisition of five of the six freight companies created by the privatisation of British...
.
History
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
under Richard Beeching
Richard Beeching
Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching , commonly known as Doctor Beeching, was chairman of British Railways and a physicist and engineer...
. As part of its modernisation and rationalisation programme, British Rail began moving freight using ISO containers on flat wagons between a series of dedicated inland terminals, using gantry cranes for transshipment
Transshipment
Transshipment or Transhipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, and then from there to yet another destination....
between road and rail.
Although initially intended for domestic freight, this was soon overtaken by freight between deep-sea ports, such as Southampton Maritime and inland distribution terminals associated with centres of manufacturing or population, such as Birmingham Lawley Street.
There was also a terminal
Dudley Freightliner Terminal
Dudley Freightliner Terminal was opened on the site of Dudley railway station in October 1967, as one of Freightliner's first rail terminals. It was an instant financial success and by 1981 was one of the most profitable Freightliner terminals in Britain, but Freightliner UK announced plans to...
which opened at Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, 10 miles (16.1 km) from Birmingham, on the site of the old railway station
Dudley railway station
Dudley Railway Station was a passenger railway station located at Dudley, England, built where the Oxford-Worcester-Wolverhampton Line and the South Staffordshire Line diverged to Wolverhampton and Walsall and Lichfield respectively.-History:...
in 1967. This proved to be one of the most profitable such terminals in the country, while the Birmingham terminal was ultimately one of the least financially viable. Yet by 1981, Freightliner UK was planning to close the Dudley terminal and transfer its staff to the Birmingham terminal in order to boost the latter's fortunes. However, the Dudley terminal was reprieved in 1983, only for closure plans to re-emerge in 1986. It finally closed in 1989 and the remaining staff were transferred to Birmingham.
In 1995, Freightliner was privatised as a stand-alone company, being bought out by its own management.
In 1999, it set up its "Heavy Haul" business alongside its traditional "Intermodal" container operation. Heavy Haul initially operated railway infrastructure trains moving ballast, rails etc. and later moving into other bulk loads including cement, coal, aggregates and scrap metal.
In 2004, it launched "Logico", providing short-term or one-off spaces on intermodal trains.
Freightliner Group Ltd was acquired by Arcapita
Arcapita
Arcapita Inc. is a Delaware-incorporated holding and real estate company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia....
from its previous owners 3i
3i
3i Group plc is a multinational private equity and venture capital company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas and had total assets under management of £12.7 billion as at 31 March 2011...
, Electra Private Equity
Electra Private Equity
Electra Private Equity is a British-based investment trust specialising in private equity. The trust is managed by Electra Partners LLP an independent private equity fund manager and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
on 13 June 2008. Management and staff also hold shares in the company.
United Kingdom
Previously part of British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
, Freightliner was privatised in 1996. The company initially only provided Intermodal services but now have four subsidiary companies, all operating under Freightliner Group Limited. Freightliner provides trunk rail services between key ports and inland rail freight interchanges within the UK, supplemented with local road services. In 1999 the company entered the bulk freight market by forming Freightliner Heavy Haul, which became a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
in 2001. Freightliner Heavy Haul operates nationwide in the coal, aggregates, cement, specialist minerals, waste and petroleum sectors. Since then, Freightliner Group has established two new subsidiaries, Freightliner Maintenance Limited, a separate entity dedicated to the repair and maintenance of traction and rolling stock, and their European subsidiary, Freightliner PL Sp. z o.o., which began operations in 2007.
Poland
In 2006, Freightliner UK expanded its operations into PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. A subsidiary company, Freightliner PL Sp. z o.o., was established to exploit high volumes of coal traffic and the liberalization of the Polish railway system from the government.
The first train hauled coal from Bogdanka
Bogdanka
Bogdanka may refer to the following places:*Bogdanka, a stream flowing through the Jeżyce district of Poznań*Bogdanka, Łódź Voivodeship *Bogdanka, Lublin Voivodeship *Bogdanka, West Pomeranian Voivodeship...
mine to Kozienice Power Station on September 1, 2007. Freightliner PL operates seven exclusively-ordered EMD JT42CWRM's & 432 Greenbrier coal hopper wagons to transport the coal in Poland. FPL's locomotives and coal wagons have the ability to be interchanged to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The JT42CWRM's are suitable for slow-speed-starts on long coal trains and can haul other commodities as the Polish Government has granted Freightliner PL to provide passenger and freight services besides coal. Four JT42CWR-T1 locomotives: 66586, 66582, 66583, 66584, & 66625(numbered 66008, 66009, 66010, 66011,& 66601 respectively) were sent from the Freightliner UK fleet to Poland. These units underwent various modifications to meet the requirements of Poland. FPL have also has 3 extra JT42CWR's (former ERS Railways) on hire from HSBC Leasing.
Most of Freightliner PL's services are located in the Gdansk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
- Warszawa corridor and southern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Freightliner PL and Freightliner UK operate as separate entities, but FPL is retained as a subsidiary to Freightliner UK.
Australia
In 2008 the new owners of Freightliner announced that they were interested in expanding internationally, particularly in Australia. Freightliner Australia Pty Ltd has since been accredited as a rail operator in the state of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, starting operations in Australia in July 2009 hauling bulk cotton.
In September 2009 mining firm Xstrata Coal
Xstrata
Xstrata plc is a global mining company headquartered in Zug, Switzerland and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is a major producer of coal , copper, nickel, primary vanadium and zinc and the world's largest producer of ferrochrome...
signed a deal with Freightliner Australia to haul export coal in the Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley Coal Chain
The Hunter Valley Coal Chain is the chain of coal delivery in New South Wales, Australia from coal mines in the Hunter Valley to the Port of Newcastle and to domestic coal-fired power stations in the Hunter Valley...
of New South Wales, commencing in late 2010 and allowing Xstrata to avoid the current incumbent rail operators. The 10 C44aci heavy haul locomotives and rollingstock will be purchased outright by Xstrata from manufacturer UGL Rail.
Fleet history
In its early days, the company struggled with an aging fleet of Class 47British Rail Class 47
The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s, supplemented by Class 86
British Rail Class 86
The British Rail Class 86 was the standard electric locomotive built during the 1960s, developed as a result of testing with the earlier Classes 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85. One hundred of these locomotives were built from 1965-1966 by either English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or...
and newer Class 90
British Rail Class 90
The British Rail Class 90 electric locomotives were built by BREL at Crewe from 1987-1990. Each locomotive weighs 84.5 tonnes and has a top speed of . They operate from 25 kV AC overhead wires and produce...
electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s. In order to increase reliability, in 1997–1998, six Class 47 locomotives were rebuilt by Brush Traction
Brush Traction
This article is about a British rail-locomotive maker. For the Detroit auto-maker, see Brush Motor Car CompanyBrush Traction is a manufacturer and maintainer of railway locomotives, part of the FKI group , based at Loughborough in Leicestershire, England situated alongside the Midland Main Line.-...
, Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
with General Motors engines and reconditioned alternators, emerging as Class 57
British Rail Class 57
The Class 57 diesel locomotives were introduced by Brush Traction between 1997-2004. They are rebuilds, with reconditioned EMD engines, of former Class 47 locomotives, originally introduced in 1964-5.- Description :...
locomotives. A further six locomotives were rebuilt in 1999–2000.
A large fleet of Class 66
British Rail Class 66
The Class 66 is a six axle diesel electric freight locomotive developed in part from the British Rail Class 59, for use on the railways of the UK. Since its introduction the class has been successful and has been sold to British and other European railway companies...
has subsequently been acquired from Electro-Motive Diesel.
In November 2007 Freightliner Group announced an order for 30 GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...
JS37ACi locos under a project called Project Genesis. The planned locomotives were given the new project name 'PowerHaul' in 2008 and have been designed with new technology engines and control systems to minimise the levels of carbon emissions produced. These locomotives will receive the TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
classification Class 70. Several have already been delivered and are already in service as of May 2010.
UK operations
| Class | Type | Introduced | Wheel arr. | In traffic | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 08 British Rail Class 08 The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes.... |
Shunter | 1953 | 0-6-0 | 10 | 08077/530/531/575/585/624/691 764/785/891 |
| Class 66 British Rail Class 66 The Class 66 is a six axle diesel electric freight locomotive developed in part from the British Rail Class 59, for use on the railways of the UK. Since its introduction the class has been successful and has been sold to British and other European railway companies... |
Diesel | 1998 onwards | Co-Co | 94 (Class 66/5) | 66501-520/522-581/585/587-599 |
| 23 (Class 66/6) | 66601-623 | ||||
| 7 (Class 66/9) | 66951-957 | ||||
| Class 70 | Diesel | 2009 | Co-Co | 11/(30) | 70001-70011 |
| Class 86 British Rail Class 86 The British Rail Class 86 was the standard electric locomotive built during the 1960s, developed as a result of testing with the earlier Classes 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85. One hundred of these locomotives were built from 1965-1966 by either English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or... |
Electric | 1965 | Bo-Bo | 1 (Class 86/5) | 86501 |
| 16 (Class 86/6) | 86604/605/607/609/610/612-614 621/622/627/628/632/637-639 |
||||
| Class 90 British Rail Class 90 The British Rail Class 90 electric locomotives were built by BREL at Crewe from 1987-1990. Each locomotive weighs 84.5 tonnes and has a top speed of . They operate from 25 kV AC overhead wires and produce... |
Electric | 1987 | Bo-Bo | 10 | 90016/041-049 |
Polish operations
| Class | Type | Introduced | Wheel arr. | In traffic | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMD Series 66 EMD Series 66 The Electro-Motive Diesel Class 66 is a series of Co-Co six axle diesel locomotives built by EMD for the European heavy freight market.... |
Diesel | 2006-7 | Co-Co | 10 (Freightliner Owned) | 66001-010 & 66601 |
| 1 (On hire) | 92 80 1 266 106-4 D-RCHEM |
External links
- Freightliner
- Freightliner PL (in Polish)
- Logico
- Mike Smith, Air Braked Container Services, Goods and Not So Goods website, 2003