GB Railfreight

GB Railfreight (GBRf) is the third largest rail freight operator in the United Kingdom, transporting goods for a wide range of customers

GBRf’s £3 million building opened in August 2021, accommodates GBRf’s traincrew and office staff including its 24-hour control centre, training and operations departments, as well as the asset management team. The building plays host to three new purpose-built classrooms and state-of-the-art simulators which will be used to develop future generations of talent from the local area and beyond.

Eastleigh and Bescot upgrades

GBRf has completed two major upgrade projects funded by Network Rail worth over £1.5 million, aimed at improving vital Local Distribution Centres (LDCs) in Eastleigh and Bescot.

Both LDC’s act as a focal point for the shunting, marshalling and preparation of trains needed to support vital engineering works carried out by Network Rail.

The work on Eastleigh LDC, in Hampshire, has been two years in the making with GBRf replacing old cabins with updated facilities that provide full recreational capability, offices for management, a meeting room, as well as a vantage point that overlooks the yard. Alongside this, GBRf undertook a car park overhaul, maximising the potential parking for those operating onsite.

Contracts

GB Railfreight (GBRf) renewed its contract with Tarmac for five years from January 2020 to 31 December 2025. GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Rail Stone Solutions (RSS) signed two contracts to support construction on the first phase of HS2.

The deals, with HS2 contractors EKFB (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial BAM Nuttall) and BBV (Balfour Beatty VINCI) will see GBRf join forces with RSS to deliver aggregates by rail to the high-speed rail project’s main construction compounds.

As part of the deal with EKFB, GBRf will support the training of new train drivers at their new state-of-the-art twin-simulators near Peterborough where the UK’s first and only full-cab freight European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) simulator centre is located.

UK’s first rail freight electrification trial

The Decarbonisation & Electrification of Freight Terminals (DEFT) project, funded by the Department for Transport and Innovate UK, has seen project partners Furrer+Frey GB, Tarmac and GB Railfreight demonstrate a new way of decarbonising rail and lessen freight’s impact on passenger journeys.

Engineers from Furrer+Frey GB designed a Moveable Overhead Conductor system at Northamptonshire terminal where overhead equipment supplying electricity to the locomotives can safely move away once the train is in place and return when the train needs to move again. This would transform the terminal in Northamptonshire to become the first in the UK to demonstrate an innovative overhead electrification system, which indicates the end for diesel on electrified rail routes and boosts the industry’s net zero ambitions. If successful, the moveable overhead system could go on to be deployed at other freight terminals across the UK and support the full decarbonisation of Britain’s railways

New locomotives

In June 2019, GBRf announced three Class 66 locomotives were to be leased from Beacon Rail Leasing and introduced to the UK rail network from Sweden. The locomotives mark GBRf’s continued growth and investment in its fleet. These locos are the most widely operated modern freight locomotives in the European market and will further strengthen GBRf’s already reliable fleet. GBRf have considerable experience bringing locomotives from Europe to the UK. Previous conversions include 66 747/8/9/5/51 from European to UK specification with the assistance of Electro Motive Diesels (EMD).

GB Railfreight (GBRF) has taken delivery of a class 18 hybrid+ shunting locomotive as part of a three-month trial with Beacon Rail Leasing, marking the latest expansion of its growing fleet. Manufactured by Clayton Equipment Ltd, the Class 18 is powered by an onboard battery that provides emissionsfree operation where charging facilities are available, or through a regenerative braking system. When challenges with range or operation occur, an efficient onboard Stage V compliant engine can be utilised to increase the locomotives running time. This shunting locomotive will enable low noise and zero emissions, demonstrating a clear contribution to meeting the UK’s net zero carbon targets.

KEY PERSONNEL

Chief Executive Officer: John Smith

Commercial Director: Liam Day

Production Director: Ian Langton

Finance Director: Karl Goulding- Davis

Asset Director: David Goulding

Business Development Director: Tim Hartley

General Infrastructure Manager: Alex Kirk

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: LONDON HQ, 3rd Floor, 55 Old Broad Street, London EC2M 1RX

Tel: 020 7904 3393

Email: info@gbrailfreight.com

Visit: www.gbrailfreight.com