Seco Rail
Encyclopedia
Colas Rail is a British rail freight company, formerly known as Seco Rail. Seco Rail was the name of the UK subsidiary of the French railway engineering company SECO which operates in Europe. SECO (Société d'Études et de Construction d'Outillage) was founded in 1931. In 2000 SECO was purchased by the road building company Colas. Whilst still based mainly in France, the company has subsidiaries in the UK and Belgium, and in 2006 became a train operator (Train operating company
in the UK) through its transportation of aggregates
. In 2007 Colas merged its Seco Rail operations with its other rail subsidiary AMEC-Spie, under the new operating name of Colas Rail, and also acquired the Plant division of Carillion Rail which was included in the new group.
diesel locomotives to power its maintenance trains, for its track renewal work for Network Rail
. 47727 and 47749 were named at a ceremony at Eastleigh works on 20 September 2007. 47739 was named on 30 September 2008. These locomotives were used on railhead treatment trains in the South West of England in 2008 and 2009.
The company also hired Class 57s
for log traffic from Crianlarich
/Carlisle
to Chirk
. From the start of 2007 until 31 October 2009 Colas Rail hired Class 57/3 locos from Virgin Trains
. Starting in August 2009 a Class 57/0 was hired from Direct Rail Services
on a trial basis for one or two days each week. These trials culminated in the use of two Class 57/0 locos in multiple on 2, 3 and 4 November 2009. On 5 November 2009 the current standard hire of one Direct Rail Services Class 57/0 each day became the norm. Although on paper the Class 57/0 is 2,500 Horsepower, 250 Horsepower less than a Class 57/3, the 57/0s are able to keep the timings allocated to the Colas Rail timber trains by Network Rail
. Unlike the Virgin Trains Class 57/3s, all 16 of which were variously used on the timber trains, Direct Rail Services has specifically allocated 57002 to the Colas workings with 57008 as standby when 57002 is out of use for maintenance or repairs. To reflect this allocation 57002 has been fitted with a large Colas Rail logo on each side, just behind the non-driving side of each cab.
Following the demise of Advenza Freight
in 2009, Colas Rail leased initially 3 Class 66/4
locomotives (66841-3), followed by an additional 2 later(66844 & 66845). The locos were previously 66405-410, which were renumbered under Advenza Freight. 66845 was also renumbered after Colas accquired it from DRS.
Class 73
Electro-diesel number 73133 was used as a shunter at Taunton Fairwater yard until 2009, when it was moved to Plymouth Tavistock Junction Yard, reportedly to be used by Colas Rail for crew and route learning duties for Network Rail.
Colas Rail also owns and operates a mixed fleet of on-track plant for maintenance operations.
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
in the UK) through its transportation of aggregates
Construction Aggregate
Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined material in the world...
. In 2007 Colas merged its Seco Rail operations with its other rail subsidiary AMEC-Spie, under the new operating name of Colas Rail, and also acquired the Plant division of Carillion Rail which was included in the new group.
Rail Operations
In 2007, the company purchased 3 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 locomotives to power its maintenance trains, for its track renewal work for Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
. 47727 and 47749 were named at a ceremony at Eastleigh works on 20 September 2007. 47739 was named on 30 September 2008. These locomotives were used on railhead treatment trains in the South West of England in 2008 and 2009.
The company also hired Class 57s
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 :...
for log traffic from Crianlarich
Crianlarich
Crianlarich is a village in the Stirling district and registration county of Perthshire, Scotland, about six miles north-east of the head of Loch Lomond...
/Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
to Chirk
Chirk
Chirk is a small town and local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It has a population of over 4,000....
. From the start of 2007 until 31 October 2009 Colas Rail hired Class 57/3 locos from Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
. Starting in August 2009 a Class 57/0 was hired from Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought...
on a trial basis for one or two days each week. These trials culminated in the use of two Class 57/0 locos in multiple on 2, 3 and 4 November 2009. On 5 November 2009 the current standard hire of one Direct Rail Services Class 57/0 each day became the norm. Although on paper the Class 57/0 is 2,500 Horsepower, 250 Horsepower less than a Class 57/3, the 57/0s are able to keep the timings allocated to the Colas Rail timber trains by Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
. Unlike the Virgin Trains Class 57/3s, all 16 of which were variously used on the timber trains, Direct Rail Services has specifically allocated 57002 to the Colas workings with 57008 as standby when 57002 is out of use for maintenance or repairs. To reflect this allocation 57002 has been fitted with a large Colas Rail logo on each side, just behind the non-driving side of each cab.
Following the demise of Advenza Freight
Advenza Freight
Advenza Freight was a rail freight company based in Gloucester in the United Kingdom. It was part of the Cotswold Rail group. The company was wound up in the High Court on 7 October 2009, following a petition from HM Revenue & Customs.- History :...
in 2009, Colas Rail leased initially 3 Class 66/4
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...
locomotives (66841-3), followed by an additional 2 later(66844 & 66845). The locos were previously 66405-410, which were renumbered under Advenza Freight. 66845 was also renumbered after Colas accquired it from DRS.
Class 73
Class 73
Class 73 may refer to:*NSB Class 73, a Norwegian passenger train.*British Rail Class 73, a British electro-diesel locomotive.* DRG Class 73, a class of German passenger tank engines with a 2-4-4 wheel arrangement operated by the Deutsche Reichsbahn and comprising:** 73 001 to 028: Palatine P 2.II**...
Electro-diesel number 73133 was used as a shunter at Taunton Fairwater yard until 2009, when it was moved to Plymouth Tavistock Junction Yard, reportedly to be used by Colas Rail for crew and route learning duties for Network Rail.
Colas Rail also owns and operates a mixed fleet of on-track plant for maintenance operations.
Current Operating Fleet
| Number | Class | Name | Livery | Former Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47727 | 47 British 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... |
Rebecca | Colas Rail Yellow & Orange | BR 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... and EWS |
| 47739 | 47 British 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... |
Robin of Templecombe | Colas Rail Yellow & Orange | BR 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... and EWS |
| 47749 | 47 British 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... |
Demelza | Colas Rail Yellow & Orange | BR 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... and EWS |
| 66841 | 66 | Colas Rail Yellow & Orange | DRS Direct Rail Services Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought... and Advenza Advenza Freight Advenza Freight was a rail freight company based in Gloucester in the United Kingdom. It was part of the Cotswold Rail group. The company was wound up in the High Court on 7 October 2009, following a petition from HM Revenue & Customs.- History :... |
|
| 66842 | 66 | Colas Rail Yellow & Orange | DRS Direct Rail Services Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought... and Advenza Advenza Freight Advenza Freight was a rail freight company based in Gloucester in the United Kingdom. It was part of the Cotswold Rail group. The company was wound up in the High Court on 7 October 2009, following a petition from HM Revenue & Customs.- History :... |
|
| 66843 | 66 | Colas Rail Yellow & Orange | DRS Direct Rail Services Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought... , Advenza Advenza Freight Advenza Freight was a rail freight company based in Gloucester in the United Kingdom. It was part of the Cotswold Rail group. The company was wound up in the High Court on 7 October 2009, following a petition from HM Revenue & Customs.- History :... and GBRf GB Railfreight GB Railfreight is a British freight train operating company. Formerly called First GBRf, its new owner Eurotunnel bought the company in May 2010.-History:... |
|
| 66844 | 66 | Colas Rail Yellow & Orange | DRS Direct Rail Services Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought... , Advenza Advenza Freight Advenza Freight was a rail freight company based in Gloucester in the United Kingdom. It was part of the Cotswold Rail group. The company was wound up in the High Court on 7 October 2009, following a petition from HM Revenue & Customs.- History :... and GBRf GB Railfreight GB Railfreight is a British freight train operating company. Formerly called First GBRf, its new owner Eurotunnel bought the company in May 2010.-History:... |
|
| 66845 | 66 | Colas Rail Yellow & Orange | DRS Direct Rail Services Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought... |
Stored Fleet
| Number | Class | Name | Livery | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73133 | 73 British Rail Class 73 The British Rail Class 73 is a United Kingdom model of electro-diesel locomotive. The type is unusual in that it can operate from a 750 V DC third-rail or an on-board diesel engine to allow it to operate on non-electrified routes... |
Unbranded Mainline Blue | Plymouth Tavistock Junction Yard |