Freight

99001 at GBRf's Peterborough Depot on July 17

News

"A new benchmark of performance": Dual-mode Class 99 launched by GBRf

GB Railfreight (GBRf) unveiled its new fleet of Class 99 locomotives at its Peterborough headquarters on July 18.

GB Railfreight 18 Jul

The view of Cemex’s Peak Forest terminal from the cab of 66139 as we approach the summit of the climb from Peak Forest Long Sidings. DAVID STUBBINGS.

Feature

RAIL joins DB Cargo UK and Cemex for cab ride from Peak District quarry

DB Cargo UK and Cemex invited RAIL out as they celebrated moving one million tonnes of material from the Peak District to Warrington.

Freight 18 Jul

Freightliner 70011 negotiates Eastleigh station with the 0641 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime on April 30, as GB Railfreight 66728 Institution of Railway Operators works the 1147 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway. The two companies hold the biggest share of UK freight operations, with intermodal a growth area. MARK PIKE.

News

Year-on-year freight growth driven by increases in top three flows

Latest Office of Rail and Road statistics show growth in three areas has driven an overall increase in freight traffic.

Rail freight 4 Jul

News

Freightliner extends Breedon Group deal with five-year contract

Freightliner has announced two new five-year heavy haul rail contracts with Breedon Group.

Freight 1 Jul

The first Shap-Drigg service hauled by DRS’ 68016 on January 31. SAM DIXON/DRS.

News

DRS begins new three-year aggregates flow - first phase to save more than 2,000 lorry journeys

Direct Rail Services ran its first train carrying 750 tonnes of material on January 31.

Direct Rail Services 4 Feb

DB Cargo 66068, in original EWS livery, passes the Mortimer foot crossing (between Reading and Basingstoke) on July 31 with the 0903 Southampton Western Docks-Birch Coppice intermodal MARK PIKE.

Comment

Comment: ensure rail freight is at the heart of the GBR plans

“Putting passengers first” should not exclude other rail traffic from the narrative, says Maggie Simpson.

Freight 27 Dec

Comment

Analysis: Rail freight sector must bide its time for a clear strategy

How is our new government faring on rail reform? In our Manifesto for Rail series, Howard Johnston turns in this issue to freight.

Industry views 9 Dec

A Class 769 unit on test between Kilmarnock and Elderslie in April 2024. STUART FOWLER

News

Freight operators considering tests for converted ‘769’ bi-mode units

Two freight operators are looking at undertaking a series of tests involving Class 769 units, with ScotRail also understood to eventually be assessing them too

Class 769 2 Dec

Ex-Royal Mail Class 325 units being cut up at Sims Metals, Newport. EDDIE HOLDEN

News

More Class 325s go for scrap but Royal Mail is open to selling remaining units

More Class 325 EMUs have been sent for scrap, but Royal Mail has said some of its units are for sale

Royal Mail 29 Nov

News

Maersk's move from Felixstowe to London Gateway will have implications for rail freight

Shipping company Maersk has announced that it will not be using the port of Felixstowe for larger vessels from next year, instead it will be moving part of its operations to London Gateway in Essex.

Rail freight 28 Nov

88010 in fridge wraps with the 0640 Daventry-Mossend at Golborne Junction. JO CLOUGH

News

DRS extends Tesco deal weeks after starting tenth route with supermarket giant

Freight operator DRS has signed a new deal with Tesco which runs into the middle of 2028

Direct Rail Services 28 Nov

A DB Cargo Class 66 tows three Royal Mail '325' units through Shrewsbury en-route to Newport for scrapping

News

Royal Mail ending rail services 'undermines' government's commitment to freight, DB Cargo CEO tells ministers

Andrea Rossi, DB Cargo's Chief Executive, wrote to Louise Haigh and Peter Hendy after Royal Mail ended its contract with the operator

DB Cargo UK 27 Nov

Comment

Comment: GBR in 2026 and support for open access and freight

Philip Haigh on new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh’s debut appearance before the House of Commons Transport Select Committee.

Phil Haigh 25 Nov

Comment

Opinion: The Budget’s pros and cons

Light rail boost, but light on HS2 Euston detail and not great for freight

Editor's comment 13 Nov

The EWS livery, first seen in April 1996, is rapidly disappearing from the modern railway scene. Until this month, the oldest working locomotive still in the colours (and its original paint) was 66003, which passes St Denys working the well-loaded 0920 Trafford Park-Southampton on May 8. TOM MCATEE.

News

EWS livery is slowly heading for the history books as more locos are repainted

The latest DB Cargo Class 66s to be repainted are 66003 and 66106, which are now in the company’s red.

Freight 6 Nov

Comment

Opinion: Royal Mail's decision was a setback but rail freight can grow

Guest columnist Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General of the Rail Freight Group, says its essential for private sector to invest in rail freight.

Freight 6 Nov

Freightliner 66620 passes Stonehouse on July 16. JACK BOSKETT.

Feature

How can freight be a major part of rail’s future?

Great British Railways will need to focus on nationalised passenger services. Freight could lose out. Heads of the two largest companies talk to Paul Clifton.

Freight 4 Nov

Freight Train derailment in Audenshaw. RAIB.

News

RAIB issues safety advice after freight train derailment

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has issued an urgent safety advice notice regarding bridges with longitudinal timber systems after initial analysis from RAIB identified that it could be the cause of a derailment in Greater Manchester in September.

RAIB 25 Oct

Solent Rail Terminal, with the DP World container port in the background. Behind the rail terminal is a former dry dock built for the liner Queen Mary, with the Freightliner terminal in the far distance. Courtesy Solent Stevedores

News

Solent Terminal helps take thousands of lorries off roads in its first six months

The new terminal at Southampton docks - the UK's third-largest container port - has handed more than 55,000 containers in its first six months

Freight 17 Oct

News

Demand for Irish rail freight increases

Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) has introduced two new rail freight services between Dublin Port and Ballina, operated by International Warehousing and Transport (IWT).

rail 15 Oct

Freight

"A new benchmark of performance": Dual-mode Class 99 launched by GBRf

RAIL joins DB Cargo UK and Cemex for cab ride from Peak District quarry

Year-on-year freight growth driven by increases in top three flows

Freightliner extends Breedon Group deal with five-year contract

DRS begins new three-year aggregates flow - first phase to save more than 2,000 lorry journeys

Comment: ensure rail freight is at the heart of the GBR plans

Analysis: Rail freight sector must bide its time for a clear strategy

Freight operators considering tests for converted ‘769’ bi-mode units

More Class 325s go for scrap but Royal Mail is open to selling remaining units

Maersk's move from Felixstowe to London Gateway will have implications for rail freight

DRS extends Tesco deal weeks after starting tenth route with supermarket giant

Royal Mail ending rail services 'undermines' government's commitment to freight, DB Cargo CEO tells ministers

Comment: GBR in 2026 and support for open access and freight

Opinion: The Budget’s pros and cons

EWS livery is slowly heading for the history books as more locos are repainted

Opinion: Royal Mail's decision was a setback but rail freight can grow

How can freight be a major part of rail’s future?

RAIB issues safety advice after freight train derailment

Solent Terminal helps take thousands of lorries off roads in its first six months

Demand for Irish rail freight increases

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

Scottish main line will "end up with discontinuous electrification"

Freight

"A new benchmark of performance": Dual-mode Class 99 launched by GBRf

RAIL joins DB Cargo UK and Cemex for cab ride from Peak District quarry

Year-on-year freight growth driven by increases in top three flows

Freightliner extends Breedon Group deal with five-year contract

DRS begins new three-year aggregates flow - first phase to save more than 2,000 lorry journeys

Comment: ensure rail freight is at the heart of the GBR plans

Analysis: Rail freight sector must bide its time for a clear strategy

Freight operators considering tests for converted ‘769’ bi-mode units

More Class 325s go for scrap but Royal Mail is open to selling remaining units

Maersk's move from Felixstowe to London Gateway will have implications for rail freight

DRS extends Tesco deal weeks after starting tenth route with supermarket giant

Royal Mail ending rail services 'undermines' government's commitment to freight, DB Cargo CEO tells ministers

Comment: GBR in 2026 and support for open access and freight

Opinion: The Budget’s pros and cons

EWS livery is slowly heading for the history books as more locos are repainted

Opinion: Royal Mail's decision was a setback but rail freight can grow

How can freight be a major part of rail’s future?

RAIB issues safety advice after freight train derailment

Solent Terminal helps take thousands of lorries off roads in its first six months

Demand for Irish rail freight increases

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

Scottish main line will "end up with discontinuous electrification"

16 DB Cargo UK drivers switching to rival

DB Cargo sells three more Class 90s for reuse

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected