Rail freight - Page 2

DB Cargo UK's Cricklewood freight terminal. DB CARGO UK.

News

DB Cargo UK: north London site "becomes UK's first net zero freight terminal"

Freight operator wants official accreditation for Cricklewood depot.

DB Cargo UK 13 Mar

Steel slab being loaded onto train hauled by GBRf's 66783 at the Port of Bristol. GB RAILFREIGHT.

News

GBRf begins its own steel slab flow to Tata Steel's Port Talbot works

GBRf steel slab flow to run alongside existing DB Cargo UK services.

GB Railfreight 12 Mar

Colas Rail's 56113 takes the second batch of redundant bitumen wagons from Preston Docks to Eastriggs on March 4 2025, seen here at Cherry Tree Junction near Blackburn. TOM MCATEE.

News

Final batch of bitumen wagons moved from Preston Docks for storage

A total of 30 wagons are now in storage after a flow between Preston Docks and Teesside ended in late 2024.

Rail freight 10 Mar

Some of the women responsible for managing and operating the 0220 Whatley Quarry-Theale freight train that ran on March 4. Above, driver Elizabeth Whettleton (Freightliner), then from left to right: Anita Bradfield – Mobile Operations Manager, Network Rail; Jess Lippett - Senior Regional Freight Manager, Network Rail; Joanne Edwards – Site Foreman, Heidelberg; Jessica Hannon - Assistant Rail Manager, Heidelberg ; Jemma Ringland – Operations Support Manager, Freightliner. NETWORK RAIL.

News

Female-managed and operated freight train runs ahead of International Women’s Day

More than 20 women from Network Rail, Freightliner, Mendip Rail and Heidelberg Materials come together to manage and run freight train.

Network Rail 7 Mar

London Overground’s 378207 is flanked by GB Railfreight’s 69003 at Clapham Junction on January 30. A South Western Railway Class 455 is in the background. PETER MUGRIDGE.

News

Industry seeks greater detail on rail reform consultation as leaders highlight areas of concern

Speakers at an All-Party Parliamentary Rail Group meeting outlined areas they'd like more detail on.

Rail reform 5 Mar

DP World's Southampton logistics hub. DP WORLD.

News

DP World moves 100,000 containers by rail from Southampton in 18 months

More than 100,000 containers have been moved by rail from DP World's Southampton hub since September 2023.

DP World 5 Mar

Old Trafford redevelopment would require Freightliner to relocate from its Trafford Park location. ALAMY.

News

Government backing of Old Trafford development points towards Freightliner move

Freightliner has said it is examining a potential move to a new site on Merseyside.

Freightliner 19 Feb

News

Boost for rail freight as Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme extended

The mode shift revenue support scheme (MSRS) for rail freight has been extended by a year and will now end on 31 March 2026 the Department for Transport has confirmed.

Rail freight 6 Feb

The first Teesport-Manchester intermodal service awaits departure on February 3 behind DRS’ 68033. SIMON RICHMOND/DRS.

News

DRS begins 12-week trial of new intermodal service

New service between Teesport and Manchester is hoped to offer a 'new route to customers'.

DRS 6 Feb

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.

DRS 4 Feb

Freightliner 66620 passes Stonehouse on July 16. JACK BOSKETT.

News

Freight calls for level playing field in upcoming spending review

A new report by Rail Partners reveals a stark warning for the UK's transport sector as a new report has revealed the cost of moving goods by rail has skyrocketed over the past decade, rising three times faster than road haulage.

Rail freight 22 Jan

Freightliner's 66572 passes Silverton in Devon as it takes JHA hopper wagons from Exeter to Crewe for scrapping. RUSSELL AYRE.

News

Wagons taken for scrap as aggregate firm replaces hopper fleet

Fleet of 183 wagons is currently in the process of being replaced

Rail freight 15 Jan

News

Freight sector awaits decision to ease Ely bottleneck as capacity is 'exhausted'

Upgrades at Ely and at Haughley Junction remain in the balance, with the rail industry looking to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spending Review later this year for answers.

Rail freight 14 Jan

Upgraded track at DB Cargo's Cardiff Tidal site. DAVID MUNT.

News

Network Rail and DB Cargo prepare for increased Port Talbot steel traffic after blast furnace closure

Steel slabs are being taken from South Wales docks to Port Talbot with the number of trains set to increase

DB Cargo UK 10 Jan

Chiltern's first East West Rail train at Winslow. Photo by Network Rail

News

Calls grow for full East West Rail electrification to boost freight

Rail Minister Lord Hendy is in favour of discontinuous electrification, but the freight sector wants a longer-term strategy for full electrification

East West Rail 2 Jan

Freightliner container freight train passing Manchester Oxford Road on the congested two-track railway through Manchester Castlefield. ALAMY.

News

Freight bosses fear losing Manchester paths as part of devolution of passenger services

Greater Manchester Combined Authority plans to bring eight rail lines in the city under its Bee Network

Greater Manchester 31 Dec

News

DCRail begins cross-London aggregates flow that 'goes against laws of running freight trains'

The new service started in October and can take between 40 and 50 lorries off the road each time it runs

Rail freight 30 Dec

News

DRS to start new intermodal service between Teesport and Manchester

New flow will operate five days a week from early February

Direct Rail Services 27 Dec

News

Freightliner to repurpose coal wagons for sustainable freight

Freightliner, in collaboration with the UK’s only railway wagon manufacturer WH Davis and Porterbrook, is spearheading a sustainable initiative to repurpose a fleet of redundant coal wagons into modern aggregate box wagons.

Freightliner 20 Dec

Aggregate Industries livery. TOBY RADZISZEWSKI.

News

GB Railfreight agrees four-year extension to existing aggregates transport contract

GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Aggregate Industries have announced a four-year extension to their existing contract, solidifying their partnership in the movement of essential aggregate materials.

Rail freight 20 Dec

Rail freight - Page 2

DB Cargo UK: north London site "becomes UK's first net zero freight terminal"

GBRf begins its own steel slab flow to Tata Steel's Port Talbot works

Final batch of bitumen wagons moved from Preston Docks for storage

Female-managed and operated freight train runs ahead of International Women’s Day

Industry seeks greater detail on rail reform consultation as leaders highlight areas of concern

DP World moves 100,000 containers by rail from Southampton in 18 months

Government backing of Old Trafford development points towards Freightliner move

Boost for rail freight as Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme extended

DRS begins 12-week trial of new intermodal service

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

Freight calls for level playing field in upcoming spending review

Wagons taken for scrap as aggregate firm replaces hopper fleet

Freight sector awaits decision to ease Ely bottleneck as capacity is 'exhausted'

Network Rail and DB Cargo prepare for increased Port Talbot steel traffic after blast furnace closure

Calls grow for full East West Rail electrification to boost freight

Freight bosses fear losing Manchester paths as part of devolution of passenger services

DCRail begins cross-London aggregates flow that 'goes against laws of running freight trains'

DRS to start new intermodal service between Teesport and Manchester

Freightliner to repurpose coal wagons for sustainable freight

GB Railfreight agrees four-year extension to existing aggregates transport contract

Most read

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

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

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

Rail freight - Page 2

DB Cargo UK: north London site "becomes UK's first net zero freight terminal"

GBRf begins its own steel slab flow to Tata Steel's Port Talbot works

Final batch of bitumen wagons moved from Preston Docks for storage

Female-managed and operated freight train runs ahead of International Women’s Day

Industry seeks greater detail on rail reform consultation as leaders highlight areas of concern

DP World moves 100,000 containers by rail from Southampton in 18 months

Government backing of Old Trafford development points towards Freightliner move

Boost for rail freight as Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme extended

DRS begins 12-week trial of new intermodal service

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

Freight calls for level playing field in upcoming spending review

Wagons taken for scrap as aggregate firm replaces hopper fleet

Freight sector awaits decision to ease Ely bottleneck as capacity is 'exhausted'

Network Rail and DB Cargo prepare for increased Port Talbot steel traffic after blast furnace closure

Calls grow for full East West Rail electrification to boost freight

Freight bosses fear losing Manchester paths as part of devolution of passenger services

DCRail begins cross-London aggregates flow that 'goes against laws of running freight trains'

DRS to start new intermodal service between Teesport and Manchester

Freightliner to repurpose coal wagons for sustainable freight

GB Railfreight agrees four-year extension to existing aggregates transport contract

Most read

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

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

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

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Chiltern Railways on verge of agreeing deal to take ex-TransPennine Express Mk 5s

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives

Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains