Fastline Freight: Data & Information
Fastline Freight: (1994 – 2010)
Fastline was created by six railwaymen who undertook a management buyout of Eastern Track Renewals from British Rail in 1996. Later that year they also purchased Northern Track Renewals from British Rail, and acquired a Harsco Track Renewals Train, the first continuous-process track relaying system in the country. As a result of dissatisfaction with the service provided by others, the possibility of acquiring their own diesel locomotives for engineering trains was also examined.
The company was acquired by Jarvis, who later resurrected the Fastline name to create a railway freight operator.
A small fleet of refurbished Class 56 and new Class 66 locomotives operated from Fastline's base at Doncaster, Yorkshire. An additional pair of Class 56 locomotives, 56311 & 56312, were hired in from Hanson Traction Ltd.
Initially Fastline’s main operation was a container train from Doncaster to Thamesport on the Isle of Grain, which operated in the afternoon/evening, and returned in the early hours of the following morning, usually operated by a Class 56 locomotive.
A second container service between Thamesport and Birch Coppice commenced on 16th August 2006.
Several coal flows were also operated by Fastline utilising Class 66’s and a new build of coal hoppers which included:
• Daw Mill to Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station
• Hatfield Colliery to Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station
• Daw Mill to Cottam Power Station
• Immingham to Ironbridge Power Station
Fastline ceased trading when Jarvis plc entered administration and subsequently ceased trading in late March 2010.
Read MoreFastline was created by six railwaymen who undertook a management buyout of Eastern Track Renewals from British Rail in 1996. Later that year they also purchased Northern Track Renewals from British Rail, and acquired a Harsco Track Renewals Train, the first continuous-process track relaying system in the country. As a result of dissatisfaction with the service provided by others, the possibility of acquiring their own diesel locomotives for engineering trains was also examined.
The company was acquired by Jarvis, who later resurrected the Fastline name to create a railway freight operator.
A small fleet of refurbished Class 56 and new Class 66 locomotives operated from Fastline's base at Doncaster, Yorkshire. An additional pair of Class 56 locomotives, 56311 & 56312, were hired in from Hanson Traction Ltd.
Initially Fastline’s main operation was a container train from Doncaster to Thamesport on the Isle of Grain, which operated in the afternoon/evening, and returned in the early hours of the following morning, usually operated by a Class 56 locomotive.
A second container service between Thamesport and Birch Coppice commenced on 16th August 2006.
Several coal flows were also operated by Fastline utilising Class 66’s and a new build of coal hoppers which included:
• Daw Mill to Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station
• Hatfield Colliery to Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station
• Daw Mill to Cottam Power Station
• Immingham to Ironbridge Power Station
Fastline ceased trading when Jarvis plc entered administration and subsequently ceased trading in late March 2010.
