Stobart Rail Freight

Stobart Rail Freight Ltd (trading as Stobart Rail) is a railway freight service operator in the United Kingdom. Stobart Rail comes under the Rail division of Eddie Stobart Logistics, and carries intermodal freight for the group. The service is operated by rail partner, Direct Rail Services.

Stobart Rail Freight Ltd
TypePrivate limited company
IndustryRail Freight
Founded19 September 2006
FounderWA Developments
HeadquartersWarrington, Cheshire, England
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
William Stobart
(Executive Chairman)
ParentEddie Stobart Logistics
Websitewww.eddiestobart.com/our-operations/rail
Stobart Rail containers at Rugby inter-modal yard
Stobart Rail containers at speed on the West Coast Mainline
The charter service Stobart Pullman being pulled by original rail transport partner, Direct Rail Services Class 47 No. 47712
Direct Rail Services Class 66 No.66414 in Stobart Rail livery leaves Aviemore with 4N47 Inverness - Grangemouth intermodal service
DB Schenker Class 66 No.66048 James the Engine in Stobart Rail livery, after the 4 January 2010 derailment at Carrbridge

History

From Tuesday 19 September 2006 Stobart Rail commenced a daily delivery train on behalf of Tesco,[1] for which it already provided comprehensive road haulage services. Collecting Tesco goods from around the Midlands, the train runs from the Stobart depot at Daventry International Railfreight Terminal (DIRFT) in Rugby, to the Grangemouth Rail terminal in Scotland. The train then returns to Rugby, 90% filled by Tesco and 10% filled by Coca-Cola - shipping the equivalent of 26 lorries daily in each direction [2]

Hauled by Class 66 locomotives supplied and manned by Direct Rail Services, the train consisted of 26 specially designed new 45 feet (14 m) curtain-sided shipping containers, which at 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) in height are within the UK loading gauge. Stobart has bought 90 of these new containers in order to provide this service. The train travels at an average speed of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), which is comparable with a lorry, although the whole process takes slightly longer because of additional loading and unloading [3]

Over the three-year contract, it is estimated the dedicated rail freight service will replace 130,000 lorry journeys and save 3 million road miles a year. Stobart has been given £400,000 by the UK Government and Scottish Executive to switch 70 per cent of its cross-border freight for Tesco from road to rail. The train will be in Tesco corporate colours.[4]

In May 2008, Stobart announced a second route had been gained for Tesco, from Grangemouth to Inverness, to start no later than September.[5]

Stobart announced in May 2008 that it planned up to six new train services in addition to the Tesco contracts in the year.[6]

Operations

Stobart had previously transported some of its freight by rail, using Stobart liveried IWB Ferrywagons hired from Tiphook.[7]

In February 2008, Stobart Rail commenced operating passenger charter services under the Stobart Pullman brand, having purchased Hertfordshire Rail Tours from the administrator of FM Rail.[8][9] Motive power and a set of Mark 3 carriages were leased from Direct Rail Services.[10] It ceased operating in July 2008.[11][12]

See also

References
  1. News & Star Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Eddie Stobart takes to the rails - Times Online
  3. Stobarts Launch Rail Freight Service
  4. News & Star Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Stobart wins second rail contract with Tesco". Commercial Motor. 23 May 2008.
  6. "Stobart on track for six new rail services". Commercial Motor. 21 May 2008.
  7. Image of a Stobart IWB freight wagon
  8. Stobart Rail sets its sights on a passenger franchise as charter operation is rebranded Rail Express issue 141 February 2008 page 4
  9. Stobart launches its Pullman charter train Rail issue 586 27 February 2008 page 12
  10. DRS/Stobart launch new Pullam train Today's Railways UK issue 76 April 2008 page 74
  11. Stobart Group axe Pullman train after just five months Rail issue 597 30 July 2008 page 68
  12. Stobart Rail pulls the plug on loss-making Pullman operation Rail Express issue 147 August 2008 page 4
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