Editing Freightliner Group (section)

===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"/>