Newsletter
News Releases
GB Railfreight announces a torrent of successes 23 February 2007
2006 was a triumphant year for GB Railfreight (GBRf), winning £45 million in new contracts with a capital investment of £28 million, they received 238 wagons and 5 new locos.
John Smith, GBRf’s Managing Director, revealed the figures at Railtex 2007, said that he expected his FirstGroup-owned company to increase turnover by more than 30 percent during the 2006/07 financial year.
In early 2006 the award-winning freight haulier won the biggest deal in its four-year history with a 10-year contract to operate engineering trains for Metronet. Metronet is the company responsible for upgrading, replacing and maintaining nine of the twelve London Underground lines.
John said: “I am delighted to have secured such a significant contract for the company. It has represented a major step up in our turnover and workload and proves that we are capable of bidding for and winning any sized contract.”
In early April 2006 Royal Mail extended its contract with GBRf for a year to move mail by rail. December saw the busiest month ever with more trains in use since the company began working with Royal Mail. Key element discussions are well advanced for mail to stay on the rail beyond the extension.
John said; “We are excited by the prospect of further extension and growing Royal Mail traffic to higher levels.”
Coal was one of the few major markets from which GBRf was absent. Jonathan Moser, GBRf’s Business Development Director, was brought to the company in September 2005 to use his considerable experience to help the company develop its involvement in this strategically very important market. He said: “I came to GBRf with the objective to help the company move into coal. We have now achieved that, thanks to a lot of hard work all round and we hope to grow our share further.”
In September 2006 GBRf signed its first contract for the movement of coal from the Port of Tyne to Drax Power station near Selby, North Yorkshire. The freight haulier’s fleet of class 66 locomotives and new purpose built HYA wagons will be used to move 1 million tonnes of coal per annum over a multi-year contract.
GBRf signed its second major coal contract in December 2006. The agreement with power generator EDF Energy will start July 1 2007, and move up to 800,000 tons of imported coal per annum from the port of Hull to EDF Energy’s coal-fired power stations at Cottam and West Burton in Nottinghamshire.
Ends
Note to editors:
· GB Railfreight is part of FirstGroup plc
· Woodhouse Communications issued this release on behalf of GB Railfreight.
For more information contact Paul Lawson of Woodhouse on 01444 473588 or email paul@woodhousecommunications.co.uk.
