GB Railfreight (GBRF): Data & Information
GB Railfreight (GBRF): (xx/xx/1999 – Present)
GB Railfreight was founded in 1999 by GB Railways. Unlike its competitors DB Cargo UK and Freightliner, the company was not formed from parts of the privatised British Rail freight sectors.
In April 2000, after winning an eight-year contract to operate infrastructure trains for Railtrack, GB Railfreight ordered seven Class 66 locomotives. An operator's licence was granted in July 2000 and operations commenced on 1st April 2001. In February 2002, GBRf commenced operating its first Intermodal container contract from the Port of Felixstowe for MSC Mendite and later in 2002, GBRf began operating its first bulk freight contract for British Gypsum.
In August 2003, GB Railways was purchased by FirstGroup and GB Railfreight was rebranded First GBRf.
In April 2004, GB Railfreight commenced operating a five year contract for Network Rail utilising four ex Gatwick Express Class 73 locomotives.
In May 2005, First GBRf began operating Royal Mail services using Class 325s. This was later extended until 2010. Also in 2005, GBRf commenced operating London Underground infrastructure trains for Metronet.
In March 2007, First GBRf commenced operating coal trains for Drax Group and EDF Energy.
In June 2007, the business was renamed First GBRf.
In 2009, First GBRf was granted a passenger licence allowing it to operate charter services.
Between December 2009 and July 2010, First GBRf operated passenger services under contract to First Great Western. The services from Cardiff Central to Taunton operated with hired Virgin Trains Class 57/3s hauling Mark 2 carriages.
In May 2010, FirstGroup put the business up for sale and was purchased by Europorte on 1st June 2010. Following the acquisition by Europorte, the company reverted to its original name and a revised version of the original livery.
In February 2011, GBRf commenced operation of rail traffic at Cardiff Tidal/Tremorfa Works.
In 2012, GBRf commenced a ten-year contract to operate the 43-mile (69 km) rail network at Sahavirirya Steel Industries Lackenby steelworks, Teesside.
In April 2015, GB Railfreight commenced a contract to haul the Caledonian Sleeper utilising Class 92s between London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central with rebuilt Class 73/9s being used from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William.
In October 2016, the business was purchased by EQT Partners, to be operated as part of the Hector Rail operation internationally.
In September 2019, EQT Partners announced it had agreed to sell the business to Infracapital, with the transaction scheduled for completion in October 2019.
Read MoreGB Railfreight was founded in 1999 by GB Railways. Unlike its competitors DB Cargo UK and Freightliner, the company was not formed from parts of the privatised British Rail freight sectors.
In April 2000, after winning an eight-year contract to operate infrastructure trains for Railtrack, GB Railfreight ordered seven Class 66 locomotives. An operator's licence was granted in July 2000 and operations commenced on 1st April 2001. In February 2002, GBRf commenced operating its first Intermodal container contract from the Port of Felixstowe for MSC Mendite and later in 2002, GBRf began operating its first bulk freight contract for British Gypsum.
In August 2003, GB Railways was purchased by FirstGroup and GB Railfreight was rebranded First GBRf.
In April 2004, GB Railfreight commenced operating a five year contract for Network Rail utilising four ex Gatwick Express Class 73 locomotives.
In May 2005, First GBRf began operating Royal Mail services using Class 325s. This was later extended until 2010. Also in 2005, GBRf commenced operating London Underground infrastructure trains for Metronet.
In March 2007, First GBRf commenced operating coal trains for Drax Group and EDF Energy.
In June 2007, the business was renamed First GBRf.
In 2009, First GBRf was granted a passenger licence allowing it to operate charter services.
Between December 2009 and July 2010, First GBRf operated passenger services under contract to First Great Western. The services from Cardiff Central to Taunton operated with hired Virgin Trains Class 57/3s hauling Mark 2 carriages.
In May 2010, FirstGroup put the business up for sale and was purchased by Europorte on 1st June 2010. Following the acquisition by Europorte, the company reverted to its original name and a revised version of the original livery.
In February 2011, GBRf commenced operation of rail traffic at Cardiff Tidal/Tremorfa Works.
In 2012, GBRf commenced a ten-year contract to operate the 43-mile (69 km) rail network at Sahavirirya Steel Industries Lackenby steelworks, Teesside.
In April 2015, GB Railfreight commenced a contract to haul the Caledonian Sleeper utilising Class 92s between London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central with rebuilt Class 73/9s being used from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William.
In October 2016, the business was purchased by EQT Partners, to be operated as part of the Hector Rail operation internationally.
In September 2019, EQT Partners announced it had agreed to sell the business to Infracapital, with the transaction scheduled for completion in October 2019.
