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![]() Railhub Archive | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Department of TransportPrivatisation is the key in rail's fight for freight with roads – Sir George Young
Loadhaul, Mainline Freight and Transrail Freight - was announced today by Transport Secretary, Sir George Young. The companies have been sold to North and South Railways, a consortium led by the Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation. Loadhaul, Mainline and Transrail undertake bulk railfreight transport - principally coal, metals, petroleum and aggregates - throughout Great Britain. The companies had a combined turnover of #558.7 million in 1994/95 and employ about 7,000 staff. Welcoming the sale, Sir George Young said: "Privatisation is the key in rail's fight for freight. Free from the restrictions of state ownership Trainload Freight will be better placed than ever to reverse the long term drift to roads and pursue innovative, customer-oriented strategies. The eagerness of the private sector to take up this challenge is even more evidence of the business community putting its weight firmly behind rail privatisation." As well as bulk railfreight transport, the Trainload Freight companies also provide engineering-train services - haulage of ballast, sleepers and track - for works on Railtrack's network. Wisconsin Central Transportation is part of a group of companies that operate the largest regional railroad in the United States, providing rail services in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota, as well as Ontario in Canada. The company is almost exclusively a freight railroad operator but also has a significant shareholding in New Zealand's 2,500 mile railroad system - New Zealand Rail. Wisconsin Central Transportation purchased Rail express systems, the former British Rail mail-train subsidiary, in December. Sir George Young said: "The privatisation of the Trainload Freight companies represents the best hope for a resurgence in freight haulage by rail in Great Britain. The addition of Wisconsin Central Transportation's international rail experience can only be good news for Britain's rail industry and its customers." NOTES TO EDITORS 1. Loadhaul - formerly TLF Northeast - is based in Doncaster and has regional operations centres in Doncaster and Middlesbrough. Principal customers are National Power, British Steel, British Coal VRJB, Total Oil and PowerGen. 2. Mainline Freight - formerly TLF Southeast - is based in London and has regional operations centres in Nottingham and Westbury. Principal customers are National Power, PowerGen, Mendip Rail and Redland Aggregates. 3. Transrail Freight - formerly TLF West - is based in Crewe and has regional centres in Cardiff, Warrington and Motherwell. Principal customers are British Steel, National Power, Nuclear Electric, English China Clays and PowerGen. 4. An information memorandum was issued for the Trainload Freight companies in July 1995 by Hill Samuel Bank, the British Railways Board's financial advisors. Final bids for the companies were received in December. 5. Former British Rail businesses for which sales contracts have already been signed for transfer to the private sector include Red Star, Rail express systems, the three rolling-stock leasing companies, OBS (formerly On Board Services) Limited and Railways Occupational Health Limited. Public Enquiries: 0171 271 4800 # = pounds sterling
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