Editing Direct Rail Services (section)

==History==
===Early operations===
The origins of Direct Rail Services (DRS) can be traced back to the [[privatisation of British Rail]] during the 1990s; [[British Nuclear Fuels Ltd]] (BNFL) had a long-standing arrangement with [[British Rail]] for the latter to undertake the haulage of [[nuclear flask]] traffic, but the pending dissolution of British Rail led to BNFL considering other options. In October 1994, it was announced that BNFL had decided to perform rail transport and other railway-related services internally.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = RFS 20s in main line deal |magazine = [[Rail Magazine|Rail]] |issue = 238 |date = 26 October 1994 |page = 9}}</ref><ref name = "about DRS"/> For this purpose, DRS was set up as a wholly-owned rail freight subsidiary of BNFL, initially using a small fleet of five [[British Rail Class 20|Class 20/3]] locomotives.<ref name = "nuclear 1996"/>

Prior to 1998, DRS's nuclear haulage activities were exclusively related to the transporting of [[nuclear fuel rod]]s from overseas to Sellafield for processing. During 1998, DRS took over the movement of fuel rods from various [[Nuclear power in the United Kingdom|nuclear power stations across Britain]], such as [[Heysham nuclear power station|Heysham]], [[Wylfa Nuclear Power Station|Valley (for Wylfa)]], [[Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station|Bridgwater (for Hinkley Point)]], [[Oldbury Nuclear Power Station|Berkeley (for Oldbury)]], [[Hunterston B nuclear power station|Hunterston]], [[Torness Nuclear Power Station|Torness]], [[Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station|Seaton Carew]], [[Dungeness Nuclear Power Station|Dungeness]] and [[Sizewell nuclear power stations|Sizewell]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title = DRS take over nuclear traffic |magazine = Rail Express |issue = 29 October 1998 |page = 6}}</ref>

[[File:Railway Line - geograph.org.uk - 596522.jpg|thumb|DRS Class 20 locomotive hauling a nuclear waste train, the original and continuing core service of the company]]

During 1997, DRS began to diversify into the haulage of other traffic, having secured a contract to operate milk traffic from [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]] to [[Cricklewood]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Britain's first piggyback milk train starts running |magazine = Rail |issue = 308 |date = 2 July 1997 |page = 7}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = DRS wins milk traffic haulage contract |magazine = Rail Express |issue = 15 August 1997 |page = 6}}</ref> In 2002, it commenced running [[intermodal freight transport|intermodal freight]] trains from [[Grangemouth]] to the [[Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal]] using [[British Rail Class 66|Class 66/4 locomotives]]; it carries containers for both the [[Malcolm Group]] and [[Asda]]. In May 2020, DRS announced it had launched a new electrified freight route between the Daventry Freight Terminal and Mossend Yard, outside [[Glasgow]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://railinsider.co.uk/2020/05/22/drs-opens-up-new-all-electric-freight-route-from-daventry-to-glasgow-via-the-ecml/ |title = DRS opens up new all-electric freight route from Daventry to Glasgow via the ECML |publisher = railinsider.co.uk |first = Nigel |last = Wordsworth |date = 22 May 2020 |access-date = 29 May 2022 |archive-date = 25 October 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211025105350/https://railinsider.co.uk/2020/05/22/drs-opens-up-new-all-electric-freight-route-from-daventry-to-glasgow-via-the-ecml/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>

The ownership of DRS was transferred from BNFL to the [[Nuclear Decommissioning Authority]] (NDA), following the creation of the NDA on 1 April 2005 under the terms of the [[Energy Act 2004]].<ref>{{Cite web |title = House of Lords - Science and Technology - Minutes of Evidence |url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldselect/ldsctech/999/7011605.htm |access-date = 10 September 2021 |website = publications.parliament.uk}}</ref><ref name = "about DRS">{{cite web |url = https://www.directrailservices.com/about-us/ |title = About us |publisher = directrailservices.com |access-date = 19 May 2022}}</ref> Since April 2021, DRS, as well as its sibling NDA subsidiaries Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL) and [[International Nuclear Services]] (INS), have been operated by a newly created NDA division, ''Nuclear Transport Solutions'' (NTS).<ref name = nts >{{cite web |title = The NDA will bring its transport and logistics expertise together |url = https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-nda-will-bring-its-transport-and-logistics-expertise-together |website = Gov.uk | publisher = Nuclear Decommissioning Authority |access-date = 3 March 2021}}</ref><ref name = "about DRS"/>

During 2006, DRS started a new service, the ''Tesco Express'', on behalf of the [[Eddie Stobart Group]] in partnership with [[Tesco]], the UK's largest food retailer, to move containers from Daventry north to [[Mossend]] and [[Inverness]] using a new dedicated low-emission Class 66 locomotive in Eddie Stobart livery, 66411 ''Eddie the Engine''. A daily service from Grangemouth to Inverness followed in 2009, with another Class 66 in a promotional livery, this time 66414 ''James the Engine''. The Daventry {{ndash}} Scotland Stobart contract transferred to [[DB Cargo UK|DB Schenker]] in January 2010, along with the onward daily service to Inverness, though this reverted to DRS operation in summer 2011.<ref>{{cite magazine |editor1-last = Piggott |editor1-first = Nick |title = Blow for DRS as DBS wins Stobart Contract |magazine = The Railway Magazine |date = October 2009 |volume = 155 |issue = 1,302 |page = 8 |publisher = IPC Media |location = London |issn = 0033-8923}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1 = Milner |first1 = Chris |title = DRS wins back Tesco train |magazine = The Railway Magazine |date = January 2013 |volume = 159 |issue = 1,341 |page = 86 |publisher = Mortons Media |location = Horncastle |issn = 0033-8923}}</ref> In January 2022, DRS and Tesco signed a three-year extension deal; by this point, the company was transporting roughly 12,000 containers for Tesco per month.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2022/01/25/drs-signs-new-tesco-deal |title = DRS signs new Tesco deal |publisher = railmagazine.com |date = 25 January 2022}}</ref>

As of 2021, DRS has stated its intention to grow its presence in the rail freight sector, particular in [[Scotland]].<ref name = "nts 2021">{{cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/drs-targets-growth-in-operations-as-part-of-nts |title = DRS targets growth in operations as part of NTS |publisher = railmagazine.com |date = 11 May 2021}}</ref>

===Passenger services===
[[File:47805 & 47818, Stretton (7222616846).jpg|thumb|A pair of DRS Class 47s hauling a rake of carriages passing near [[Stretton, Derbyshire]]]]
In 2007, seven [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 carriages]] from [[Virgin Trains]] were refurbished at the [[Oxley TRSMD|Oxley depot]].<ref>{{cite magazine |editor-last = Sutton |editor-first = Phillip |title = Direct Rail Services buys passenger coach rake for possible charter use |magazine = Rail Express |issue = 127 |date = December 2006 |page = 4 |issn = 1362-234X}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |editor1-last = Fox |editor1-first = Peter |title = DRS unveils refurbished Mk 3s |journal = Today's Railways |date = September 2007 |issue = 69 |page = 65 |publisher = Platform 5 |location = Sheffield |issn = 1475-9713}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last = Milner |first = Chris |title = DRS launches luxury charter set |magazine = The Railway Magazine |volume = 153 |issue = 1,277 |date = September 2007 |page = 71 |issn = 0033-8923}}</ref> The following year saw the coaches used to operate [[charter]] services under the [[Stobart Group|Stobart Rail]] banner,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Yearsley|first=Alan|title=DRS/Stobart launch new Pullman train |magazine = Today's Railways |issue = 76 |date = April 2008 |page = 74|issn = 1475-9713}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last = Bickerdyke |first = Paul |title = Stobart launches new charter operation |magazine = The Railway Magazine |volume = 154 |issue = 1,284 |date = April 2008 |page = 67 |issn = 0033-8923}}</ref> however, the Stobart Rail operation ceased in July 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Yearsley |first = Alan |title = Stobart pulls plug on charter operation |magazine = Today's Railways |issue = 81 |date = September 2008 |page = 74 |issn = 1475-9713}}</ref>

In June 2009, DRS commenced operating [[Bank engine|rescue locomotive]] duties on the [[Great Eastern Main Line]] for the train operator [[National Express East Anglia]], as well as hauling [[British Rail Class 90|Class 90]] electric locomotives from {{Stnlink|Norwich}} to {{Stnlink|Great Yarmouth}} on summer Saturdays.<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Milner |first = Chris |title = DRS launches Thunderbird contract |magazine = The Railway Magazine |volume = 155 |issue = 1,300 |date = August 2009 |page = 75 |issn = 0033-8923}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/current-trains/norfolk-s-seaside-special |title = Norfolk's seaside special |publisher = railmagazine.com |first = Richard |last = Clinnick |date = 12 August 2009}}</ref> This included Summer Saturday [[Wherry Lines]] services. DRS have periodically operated services on the [[Wherry Lines]] during periods of diesel multiple unit shortage. During October 2014, it commenced operating a two-year contract to operate services on the Wherry Lines under contract to [[Abellio Greater Anglia]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Pritchard |first = Robert |title = DRS coaches in use on GA loco-hauled |magazine = Today's Railways |issue = 154 |date = October 2014 |page = 63 |issn = 1475-9713}}</ref> It was operated by top and tailed Class 47s hauling Mark 2s, top and tail Class 37s were introduced in mid-2015.

[[File:Class 37 and 68 st bees.jpg|thumb|DRS Class 37 and Class 68 cross with [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2]] passenger stock at {{stnlnk|St Bees}} on the Cumbrian Coast line.]]
Between 30 November 2009 and 28 May 2010, DRS ran a service on the [[Cumbrian Coast Line]] between {{Stnlink|Maryport}} and {{Stnlink|Workington}} following a road bridge being destroyed by floods.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/free-cumbria-floods-train-service-to-finish-next-week-1.711071?referrerPath=news/brave_river_rescuers_save_woman_s_life_1_621622=news/ |title = Free Cumbria Floods Train Service to Finish Next Week |publisher = [[News and Star]] |location = Carlisle |date = 21 May 2010}} {{Cite web |url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/free-cumbria-floods-train-service-to-finish-next-week-1.711071?referrerPath=news%2Fbrave_river_rescuers_save_woman_s_life_1_621622%3Dnews%2F |title=Ballet star shows off charity portraits |date=13 December 2000 |access-date=26 July 2019 |archive-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307140006/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/free-cumbria-floods-train-service-to-finish-next-week-1.711071?referrerPath=news%2Fbrave_river_rescuers_save_woman_s_life_1_621622%3Dnews%2F |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> The trains were made up of [[British Rail Class 37|Class 37]]s, [[British Rail Class 47|Class 47]]s and [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57]]s top and tailing DRS' Mark 3 carriages.

During April 2011, DRS commenced a five-year contract under which it provided [[British Rail Class 47|Class 47]] locomotives to haul the [[Belmond Northern Belle|Northern Belle]], a luxury passenger train.<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Marsh |first = Phil |title = Direct Rail Services to operate Northern Belle |magazine = The Railway Magazine |volume = 157 |issue = 1323 |date = July 2011 |page = 73 |issn = 0033-8923}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = DRS bolsters Class 47 fleet for passenger work |magazine = [[Rail Express]] |issue = 181 |date = June 2011 |page = 42}}</ref> By 2013, the company was operating 140 passenger charters annually, roughly 100 of which were for the Northern Belle.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/current-trains/introducing-the-drs-crewe |title = Introducing the DRS 'Crewe' |publisher = railmagazine.com |date = 1 May 2013}}</ref> By April 2018, the train was being hauled by [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57]]s operated by [[West Coast Railways]], the owner of the Northern Belle, instead.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Northern Belle now has West Coast power |magazine = Rail Express |issue = 265 |date = June 2018 |page = 71}}</ref>

On 9 January 2012, a trial service was introduced for six weeks by the NDA for its workers, with DRS supplying a Class 37 to haul four [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2]] carriages between {{Stnlink|Carlisle}} and {{Stnlink|Sellafield}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |url = http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2012/loco-hauled-cumbrian-coast-commuter-services/ |title = Loco-hauled Cumbrian Coast Commuter Service |magazine = Rail.co.uk |date = January 2012 |access-date = 13 September 2012 |archive-date = 24 November 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121124042120/http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2012/loco-hauled-cumbrian-coast-commuter-services/ |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |editor-last = Brown |editor-first = Murray |title = DRS begins its own service to ferry workers to Sellafield and return |magazine = Rail Express |issue = 189 |date = February 2012 |page = 7 |issn = 1362-234X}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |editor-last = Piggott |editor-first = Nick |title = Sellafield workers train launched |magazine = The Railway Magazine |volume = 158 |issue = 1,331 |date = March 2012 |page = 11 |issn = 0033-8923}}</ref> Although the trial was reported to have been a success, plans to introduce regular services from December 2012 did not materialise until May 2015. To operate these services, DRS purchased a fleet of Mark 2 carriages and had these overhauled at [[Eastleigh Works]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Russell |first = David |title = Overhauled DRS Mk2s emerge from Eastleigh |magazine = Rail Express |issue = 204 |date = May 2013 |page = 51 |issn = 1362-234X}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last = Russell |first = David |title = Further DRS coaches emerge from Eastleigh |magazine = Rail Express |issue = 207 |date = August 2013 |page = 53 |issn = 1362-234X}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last = Pritchard |first = Robert |title = DRS launches refurbished Mark 2s |magazine = Today's Railways |issue = 142 |date = October 2013 |page = 68 |issn = 1475-9713}}</ref> In May 2015, the company started to operate some services on the Cumbrian Coast Line under contract to [[Northern Rail]] (later [[Arriva Rail North]]) using top and tail Class 37s which hauled Mark 2 coaches.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine = Railway Herald |url = http://railwayherald.com/uknews/loco-hauled-services-to-return-to-the-cumbrian-coast |access-date = 9 January 2015 |title = Loco-hauled Services to Return to the Cumbrian Coast |date = 8 January 2015 }}</ref> On 27 July 2015, one of the Class 37s was replaced by a [[Driving Brake Standard Open|DBSO]], with the other replaced at a later date.<ref>{{cite magazine |editor-last = Harris |editor-first = Nigel |title = Cumbrian top and tail 37s phased out |magazine = Rail Magazine |issue = 780|date = 5 August 2015 |page = 22 |publisher = Bauer Media |location = Peterborough |issn = 0953-4563}}</ref> On 29 January 2018, one set was made to be Top and Tail Class 68s, while the other stayed a Class 37 and DBSO. On 21 May 2018, there was only one set out, which was the Top and Tail Class 68s only running between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. This service was ultimately replaced by [[British Rail Class 156|Class 156]] Diesel Multiple Units (transferred from [[Abellio ScotRail|ScotRail]]) on 28 December 2018, with special commemorative 'farewell' service being run for charity on 11 January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.directrailservices.com/news-articles/2019/01/04/special-cumbrian-coast-service-to-commemorate-class-37s/ |title = Special Cumbrian Coast service to commemorate Class 37s |date = 4 January 2019 |website = Direct Rail Services |access-date = 16 January 2019 |archive-date = 16 January 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190116200742/https://www.directrailservices.com/news-articles/2019/01/04/special-cumbrian-coast-service-to-commemorate-class-37s/ |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/news/latest-news/2174-special-cumbrian-service-to-commemorate-class-37s |title = Special Cumbrian service to commemorate Class 37s |website = Arriva Rail North (Northern) |access-date = 16 January 2019 |archive-date = 3 January 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190103235603/https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/news/latest-news/2174-special-cumbrian-service-to-commemorate-class-37s |url-status = dead }}</ref>

In June 2014, it was announced that [[Chiltern Railways]] had signed a contract with DRS for the latter to provide six of its [[British Rail Class 68|Class 68]] locomotives to haul express passenger services, replacing [[British Rail Class 67|Class 67]]s hired from DBS.<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Pritchard |first = Robert |title = Chiltern signs deal for Class 68s |magazine = Today's Railways |issue = 150 |date = June 2014 |page = 60 |issn = 1475-9713}}</ref> On 15 December 2014, the first of DRS-hauled Chiltern service departed [[Marylebone station]]; Chiltern noted that the Class 68s will be capable of hauling extended trains in the future.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/class-68-makes-chiltern-railways-debut |title = Class 68 makes Chiltern Railways debut |publisher = railmagazine.com |first = Richard |last = Clinnick |date = 15 December 2014}}</ref> In addition to the locomotives themselves, DRS provided commissioning and maintenance services.<ref>{{cite news |title = Chiltern leases six Class 68 locos for Mainline services in £15m deal |url = http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Awards-contracts-appointments/chiltern-leases-six-class-68-locos-for-mainline-services-in-15m-deal |work = Rail Technology Magazine |date = 15 April 2014 |access-date = 12 August 2014}}</ref>