Editing Freightliner Group (section)

==History==
[[File:BR FGA Freightliner flats {{not a typo|60152-601403}} outside the National Railway Museum.JPG|thumb|Original BR FGA Freightliner flats {{not a typo|60152-601403}}, preserved outside the [[National Railway Museum]], York]]
===British Rail===
The idea of shipping freight in set-sized containers went back to the 1930s in the UK with the adoption of the [[Conflat]] system. But it was [[Richard Beeching|Dr Richard Beeching]] who, in his report ''Reshaping Britain's Railways'', advanced the concept of containerised freight in the UK.<ref name=RailArch50/>

Beeching proposed 55 depots placed strategically across the UK, serviced by fixed-consist permanently-coupled air-braked trains, with an average journey between depots of {{convert|150|mi}} and a shortest distance of {{convert|50|mi}}. [[British Railways]] progressed with the concept, envisaging {{convert|40|ft|sing=on}} length wagons - later increased to {{convert|60|ft|abbr=on}} - carrying {{convert|8|x|8|x|8|ft|abbr=on}} standard sized international [[shipping container]]s in lengths of {{convert|10|to|27|ft|abbr=on}}, later adapted to {{convert|20|to|40|ft|abbr=on}}. These BR UK-adopted standards were formed on the basis of analysis of then current international intermodal practise, and later adopted as the base of the internationally agreed [[ISO 668]]. Containers would be loaded at the dedicated inland terminals, using [[gantry crane]]s for [[transshipment]] between road and rail.<ref>{{cite web |title = British Railways Board Freightliner Brochure 1965 |url = http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRB_Freight1965.pdf |publisher = railwaysarchive.co.uk |date = 1965}}</ref>

During January 1964, the prototype flat wagon was produced by [[Shildon railway works]]; later that same year, 100 production wagons were turned out from [[Ashford railway works]].<ref name=RailArch50>{{cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/operations/freight/freightliner-s-50-years |title = Freightliner's 50 years |publisher = Railways Archive |date = 23 December 2015 |access-date = 16 April 2019}}</ref> The first revenue-earning train ran between [[Maiden Lane railway stations|York Way/Maiden Lane]] in [[North London]] and [[Southside railway station|Gushetfaulds]] in [[Glasgow]] on 15 November 1965.<ref name=RailArch50/> Soon adopting the Freightliner name, the first single-shipper train was operated on 20 August 1968, hauling specially-designed {{convert|30|ft|sing=on}} containers carrying parts for [[Ford Escort (Europe)|Ford Escort]] cars that were destined for assembly in plants on the European mainland.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Fords run first company Freightliner |magazine = [[Modern Railways]] | issue= 241 | date= October 1968| page=551}}</ref>

===Freightliner Ltd (1968)===
Beeching's original concept envisioned Freightliner servicing a domestic freight market, which by 1968 had resulted in British Railways developing 17 purpose-built depots. However, Freightliner's most profitable routes were those servicing Britain's major ports, specifically traffic to/from continental Europe and Ireland, as well as import/export traffic to the rest of the world. This pattern of profitability was recognised in the [[Transport Act 1968]], whereby Freightliner became a separate listed commercial company wholly owned by the UK Government, but which leased its UK domestic rail transport from British Railways.<ref name=RailArch50/>

By the end of the 1960s, Freightliner operated 28 terminals and 56 routes, however, the company's shift in focus from the original domestic freight market to the international market serviced via ports continued for the next 30{{nbsp}}years, with many of the original domestic depots which did not service port traffic either never opening or eventually closing (i.e.: Kings Cross, Sheffield, Swansea, Swindon), whilst investment in seaport depots - specifically [[Port of Southampton|Southampton]], [[Port of Harwich|Harwich]], and the [[Port of Felixstowe]] where Beeching's plan had never envisaged a depot - continued at an increasing pace.<ref name=RailArch50/> Part of the consolidation of rail depots was enabled by a greater focus on Freighliner's own HGV network of dedicated lorries, which expanded the servicing footprint of each rail depot, and hence allowed increased efficiency through creating longer and better utilised train routes.<ref name=RailArch50/>

[[Dudley Freightliner Terminal]], {{convert|10|mi|km}} from [[Birmingham]], on the site of the [[Dudley railway station|old railway station]] was opened in October 1967. This initially proved to be one of the most profitable such terminals in the country, while the Birmingham terminal was ultimately one of the least financially viable. In 1981, due to a lack of international traffic, Freightliner was planning to close Dudley and transfer its function to Birmingham. Given a reprieve in 1983, it finally closed during 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/dudley.php |title = Dudley Station |website = Rail Around Birmingham |first = Andrew |last = Doherty}}</ref>

Increasing Irish traffic resulted in a depot being opened at the [[Port of Holyhead]], as well as Freightliner having dedicated operations in both [[Belfast]] and [[Dublin]].<ref name=RailArch50/> This also resulted in UK Government granting Freightliner funds to create a dedicated multimodal terminal at the [[Port of Liverpool]] to replace its previously lost rail freight traffic, and then further investment in second multimodal terminals at both Felixstowe and the [[Port of Tilbury]].<ref name=RailArch50/>

===Return to British Railways===
The [[Transport Act 1978]] brought Freightliner back inside the control of British Railways, mostly driven by the investment required to 
ease the rail network's [[loading gauge]] restrictions that hampered the transport of shipping containers {{convert|8|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} and {{convert|9|ft|abbr=on}} in height.<ref name=RailArch50/>

Freightliner immediately made a major pitch to the BR Board to allow 8&nbsp;ft 6&nbsp;in contains to be carried on the [[East Coast Main Line]] (ECML), which involved lowering the track in {{clarify span|text=Stoke area|reason=Is this is a reference to Stoke Tunnel near Grantham?|date=January 2023}}, as well as in Peascliffe and [[Penmanshiel Tunnel|Penmanshiel]] tunnels (in [[Lincolnshire]] and the [[Scottish Borders]], respectively). The alterations were successfully completed at Stoke and Peascliffe, but Penmanshiel Tunnel [[Penmanshiel Tunnel#Tunnel collapse (1979)|collapsed in March 1979]] while work was underway, killing two workers and severing the ECML between [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh]] and [[Berwick-upon-Tweed railway station|Berwick]].<ref name=mcN>{{cite book |last1=McNaughton |first1=Lt. Col. I.K.A. |title=Report on the Collapse of Penmanshiel Tunnel that occurred on 17th March 1979 in the Scottish Region British Railways |date=2 August 1983 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |url=https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_Penmanshiel1979.pdf |access-date=2 January 2023 |format=PDF |isbn=0-1155-0626-8}}</ref> The extent of the collapse meant that reconstruction was considered to be too dangerous and expensive, so the tunnel was bypassed by a new section of line constructed in an open cutting slightly to the west of the original alignment that opened five months later in late August.<ref name=mcN /> Freightliner later withdraw its services on that stretch of the ECML.<ref name=RailArch50/>

During the 1980s, Freighliner became part of BR's 1980s non-bulk [[Railfreight Distribution]] (RfD) division, which brought about its first ever allocation of locomotives. After experimenting with other rail operators solutions to coping with the new larger containers, in 1990 BR agreed the order of 700 flat-wagons from [[SNCF]] supplier [[Arbel Fauvet Rail]], which could immediately accommodate 8&nbsp;ft 6inch height containers at 75&nbsp;mph speeds.<ref name=RailArch50/> This was further supplemented in 1991 with leased flat-wagons from [[Tiphook]].<ref name=RailArch50/> Further experimentation with SNCF-leased Multifret flat-wagons {{ndash}} which could accommodate 9&nbsp;ft containers at speeds of up to {{convert|90|mph|abbr=on}} {{ndash}} led to an order of 45 BR-specified "Lowliner" wagons with a deck height of only {{convert|720|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}, which allowed the transport of {{avoid wrap|9-foot-high}} containers on routes approved for 8&nbsp;ft 6&nbsp;in containers using the existing wagon fleet.<ref name=RailArch50/>

Although designed to accommodate 9&nbsp;ft containers over the entire BR network, the slow delivery of Lowliners meant that the entire allocation was utilised instead to carry 8&nbsp;ft 6&nbsp;in containers on trains to and from [[London Thamesport]], circumventing the restricted clearances on the former [[South Eastern & Chatham Railway]].<ref name=RailArch50/> The withdrawal of [[Sealink|Sealink's]] dedicated freight service from Holyhead also brought about the end of Freightliner's dedicated service to Northern Ireland via North Wales.<ref name=RailArch50/>

===Privatisation - Freightliner (1995) Ltd===
[[File:BR 47 376.jpg|thumb|[[British Rail Class 47|47376]] in original Freightliner livery. This locomotive was used to launch the company in 1995, being named ''Freightliner 1995''.]]
As part of the [[Privatisation of British Rail]], the loss-making RfD division came under increasing pressure, leading to the immediate closure of the [[Speedlink]] division. Freightliner closed the residual domestic-serving depots, including London's Willesden and Stratford, Bristol (closed in 1992, later reopened in 2014) Glasgow Gushetfaulds, and consolidation of Manchester's traffic on the newly opened Euroterminal (later switched back to the previously closed [[Trafford Park]]).<ref name=RailArch50/>

The Freightliner business unit had its assets transferred into a new company, Freightliner (1995) Limited, in preparation for sale.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03118392 |title = Freightliner (1995) Limited: Company no 3118392 |publisher = Companies House |access-date = 30 May 2022}}</ref> Rejected as not sufficiently profitable by [[DB Cargo UK|English Welsh & Scottish Railway]],<ref name=RailArch50/> on 25 May 1996, Freightliner was purchased in a [[management buyout]] backed by [[3i]] and [[Electra Private Equity]] for a sum of £5.4 million.<ref>{{cite news |title = Secretary of State for Transport - Written Answers |url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199697/cmhansrd/vo961127/text/61127w12.htm |publisher = Hansard |date = 27 November 1996}}</ref> As part of the sale agreement, the UK Government awarded the company a track-access grant of £75 million up until the year 2000.<ref name=RailArch50/>

[[File:Freightliner 57005.jpg|thumb|57005 ''Freightliner Excellence'' on container train in 2002]]
Freightliner's immediate need was for improved reliability from its locomotive fleet. During 1997, the company commissioned [[Brush Traction]] to rebuild of six of its [[British Rail Class 47|Class 47]] locomotives to create the [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57]], which was fitted with reconditioned [[General Motors]] power units and reworked ex-Class 56 alternator groups. The first of these was released in July 1998, and coincided with the unveiling of the new British Racing Green Freightliner livery. After an evaluation period, Freightliner was sufficiently impressed to order a further six in June 1999, with plans for an eventual fleet of 25.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Freightliner signs deals for five 66s and six 57s |magazine = [[Rail (magazine)|Rail]] |issue = 358 |date = 2 June 1999 |page = 4}}</ref> However, in actuality, no additional Class 57 locomotives were delivered to Freightliner, largely due to the company opting to place orders for new-built [[British Rail Class 66|Class 66s]], all being leased from [[Porterbrook]].<ref name = "15years Class66">{{cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/current-trains/fifteenth-anniversary-of-the-class-66 |title = Fifteenth anniversary of the Class 66 |publisher = railmagazine.com |date = 17 April 2013}}</ref>

During 1999, Freightliner established its Heavy Haul business. In March 2004, Freightliner launched Logico, providing short-term or one-off spaces on intermodal trains, it is typically active at major British freight hubs such as the [[South Wales International Terminal]] and the [[Port of Felixstowe]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/partner-directory/rail-companies/freightliner-ltd/ |title = Freightliner Ltd |publisher = portoffelixstowe.co.uk |access-date = 30 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2012/records-broken-as-container-trains-expand-in-welsh-business/ |title = Records Broken as Container Trains' Expand in Welsh Business  |publisher = rail.co.uk |date = 13 March 2012}}</ref> By 2014, Freightliner was actively trying to increase such trains in response to requests for higher service frequencies from ports.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2015/01/15/ports-want-rail-freight-to-operate-365-days-a-year |title = Ports want rail freight to operate 365 days a year |publisher = railmagazine.com |first = Richard |last = Clinnick |date = 17 September 2014}}</ref>

During 2007, Freightliner commenced operations in Poland;<ref name=RailArch50/> its primary activity in the Polish market has been the haulage of aggregates and coal traffic.<ref name = "buswire 2015"/>

===Post-privatisation===
[[File:Freightliner Hunslet 01.jpg|thumb|Locomotive [[British Rail Class 66|Class 66]] No.66568 and "Heavy Haul" wagons at the Freightliner Vehicle Maintenance Facility, Leeds]]
On 13 June 2008, Freightliner Group was purchased by Railinvest Holding Company Limited,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06522978 |title = Railinvest Holding Company Limited: Company no 6522978 |publisher = Companies House |access-date = 30 May 2022}}</ref> a subsidiary of [[Arcapita Bank]] of [[Bahrain]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Freightliner acquired by Arcapita |url = http://www.3i.com/media/press-releases/freightliner-acquired-by-arcapita.html |date = 13 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Electra Priv Equity ELTA Final Results |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aZqnikHGDaHA |date = 13 June 2008 |work = Bloomberg}}</ref>

On 30 June 2009, Freightliner commenced operations in Australia, having secured an initial contract with Namoi Cotton Co-operative to haul containerised processed cotton traffic in [[New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/freightliner-australia-begins-with-cotton-contract/34172.article |title = Freightliner Australia begins with cotton contract |publisher = railwaygazette.com |date = 2 July 2009}}</ref> Over the following six years, it would become an accredited rail service provider in Western Australia, Southern Australia and [[Queensland]], as well as expanding into hauling coal and other agricultural traffic for various customers in New South Wales.<ref name = "buswire 2015"/>

In February 2015, as part of the sale of Freightliner from Arcapita Bank to Genesee & Wyoming, the latter purchased a 95% shareholding which increased to 100% in 2020. At the time of the acquisition, Freightliner's portfolio comprised approximately 250 standard gauge locomotives along with 5,500 wagons, and had a headcount in excess of 2,500 employees worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Smith |first1 = Kevin |title = G&W completes Freightliner acquisition |url = https://www.railjournal.com/freight/gw-completes-freightliner-acquisition/ |access-date = 21 October 2021 |work = International Railway Journal |date = 26 March 2015}}</ref><ref name = "buswire 2015">{{cite web |url = https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150224006904/en/Genesee-Wyoming-Inc.-Enters-into-Agreement-to-Acquire-Freightliner-Group-Limited-Expands-Rail-Operations-in-the-United-Kingdom-Continental-Europe-and-Australia |title = Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Enters into Agreement to Acquire FreightlinerGroup Limited; Expands Rail Operations in the United Kingdom,Continental Europe and Australia |publisher = businesswire.com |date = 24 February 2015}}</ref>

On 12 November 2015, [[British Rail Class 47]] No. 47830 (D1645), which is operated by Freightliner, was named ''Beeching's Legacy'' to mark 50 years since the first container train ran under British Rail.<ref name="BeechingLegacy">{{cite magazine |title = Freightliner marks 50 years with a naming |magazine = The Railway Magazine |date = 2 December 2015 |volume = 161 |issue = 1,377 |page = 7 |publisher = [[Mortons Media Group]] |location = Horncastle, Lincs |issn = 0033-8923}}</ref>

In April 2018, Freightliner unveiled its new brand identity during an event at the [[NEC Birmingham]], bringing the brand inline with parent company Genesee & Wyoming.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.freightliner.co.uk/news/freightliner-unveils-new-brand-identity-multimodal |title = Freightliner unveils new brand identity at Multimodal |publisher = Freightliner |date = 2 May 2018}}</ref>

On 1 July 2019, it was announced that Freightliner's parent company Genesee & Wyoming is to be bought for US$8.4{{nbsp}}billion by a consortium including [[Brookfield Infrastructure Partners|Brookfield Infrastructure]], [[GIC Private Limited|GIC]] and Brookfield's institutional partners.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/business/single-view/view/genesee-wyoming-to-be-acquired-in-84bn-deal.html |title = Genesee & Wyoming to be acquired in US$8·4bn deal |date = 1 July 2019 |website = Railway Gazette |language = en |access-date = 7 July 2019}}</ref>

In April 2024, Freightliner UK and Europe split from G&W becoming sister companies, since they were both still owned by Brookfield and GIC.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.railwayherald.com/uknews/freightliner-to-be-split-from-genesee-wyoming |title = FREIGHTLINER TO BE SPLIT FROM GENESEE & WYOMING |date = 3 April 2024|website = Railway Herald |language = en |access-date = 20 January 2024}}</ref>