The move follows Eurotunnel's takeover of Veolia Cargo's French
operations last year, which has given the company a 3% share of the
French railfreight market. Eurotunnel CEO Mr Jacques Gounon says the
acquisition of GBRf will give the company a similar share of the
British market.
operations last year, which has given the company a 3% share of the
French railfreight market. Eurotunnel CEO Mr Jacques Gounon says the
acquisition of GBRf will give the company a similar share of the
British market.
Like Veolia Cargo, GBRf will be incorporated into
Eurotunnel's Europorte 2 subsidiary, which says it can now offer
customers a comprehensive cross-Channel railfreight service.
GBRf
won its first contract in April 2000 and has grown steadily over the
last decade to become a profitable business employing nearly 300 staff
with revenues of £56 million last year. The company is active in
intermodal and bulk markets including coal, gypsum, petrochemicals and
metallurgical products. It also operates infrastructure trains for
Network Rail and has a passenger license, providing crews for First
Great Western.
GBRf became part of FirstGroup in 2004 as part of
the sale of GB Railways, although it has remained FirstGroup's sole
railfreight operation.
Photo: Keith Fender
