Heavy Haul Rail is a British rail freight transport company that was spun off from Freightliner in January 2026. It is owned by Brookfield and GIC.
History Freightliner was founded in 1969 pursuant to the Transport Act 1968 to focus on the movement of intermodal containers by rail. It was owned by the British Rail Board and National Freight Corporation.Freightliners Limited formed Railway Gazette 7 February 1969 page 86 In 1977 full ownership was vested in the British Rail Board.Freightliners go back to BR Railway Gazette International December 1977 page 448
In May 1996 as part of the privatisation of British Rail, Freightliner was sold in a management buyout.Freightliner 95 sold - and Porterbrook enters freight market by buying 70 locomotives and 699 wagons The Railway Magazine issue 1143 July 1996 page 14 In December 1999, Freightliner diversified into the heavy haulage market to compete with EWS.Freightliner Heavy Haul division challenges EWS The Railway Magazine issue 1186 February 2000 page 6
Freightliner announced in September 2025 that it had agreed to terms to sell its UK intermodal container business to CMA CGM.CMA CGM announces the acquisition of Freightliner UK Intermodal Logistics, a leading rail freight operator in the United Kingdom CMA CGM 22 September 2025 The sale was completed on 29 January 2026.CMA CGM completes Freightliner acquisition International Railway Journal 29 January 2026CMA completes Freightliner intermodal deal Modern Railways issue 930 March 2026 page 13Freightliner to sell its UK intermodal arm Rail Express issue 354 November 2025 page 8 As the sale included use of the Freightliner brand, the residual business was rebranded 'Heavy Haul Rail'.Split of Freightliner and Heavy Haul operations completed The Railway Magazine issue 1500 March 2026 page 72Heavy Haul Rail launched on completion of Freightliner sale Rail Express issue 358 March 2026 page 14
Operations At the time of separation from the Freightliner operation in January, Heavy Haul Rail was running around 250 trains each week and serving around 100 locations. It operated ten depots and yards: Barrow Hill Basford Hall, Crewe Doncaster (jointly with Freightliner) Earles Sidings, Derbyshire Fairwater, Taunton Guide Bridge Vehicle Maintenance Facility, Manchester Hunslet, Leeds Midland Road, Leeds Stoke Gifford, near Bristol York Yard South
Fleet Heavy Haul Rail commenced operations with 95 locomotives; 14 class 59s, 62 class 66s and 19 class 70s.Freightliner sale sees fleet split across two businesses Railways Illustrated issue 278 April 2026 page 8 ClassImageTypeBuiltWheel arr.In trafficNumbersNotes59Diesel locomotiveCo-Co459001, 59002, 59004, 59005Acquired from Mendip Rail in 2019.459101 59102, 59103, 59104659201, 59202, 59203, 59204, 59205, 59206 Acquired from DB Cargo UK in 2019.661999-2008766413, 66414, 66415, 66416, 66418, 66419, 66420Acquired from Direct Rail Services in 2011.2966507, 66520, 66522, 66534, 66536, 66537, 66545, 66546, 66547, 66548, 66550, 66555, 66556, 66557, 66558, 66559, 66560, 66561, 66562, 66563, 66564, 66565, 66566, 66585, 66587, 66588, 66589, 66590, 665941966601, 66602, 66603, 66604, 66605, 66606, 66607, 66610, 66613, 66614, 66615, 66616, 66617, 66618, 66619, 66620, 66621, 66622, 66623466951, 66952 66953, 66957702009-20111970001, 70002, 70003, 70004, 70005, 70006, 70007, 70008, 70009, 70010, 70011, 70013, 70014, 70015, 70016, 70017, 70018, 70019, 7002070012 dropped while being unloaded at Newport; returned to manufacturers and is used as a test bed.
References
External links