Feature, Freight News, Rail


GBRf plays tribute to the leafbusters

[ July 17, 2026   //   ]

GB Railfreight (GBRf), now the UK’s largest rail freight company, has named locomotive 66745 Wigan Springs Branch in recognition of the vital role played by one of Network Rail’s key seasonal maintenance hubs.

Wigan Springs Branch is a key hub for the company’s Rail Head Treatment Train which keeps the network running during the autumn leaf fall season.

Colleagues and guests from Network Rail and GB Railfreight gathered for the naming ceremony, which was attended by GBRf chief executive John Smith and chief operating officer Ian Langton.

GBRf is now the UK’s biggest rail freight operator, according to figures published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on 17 July.

Launched in 2001, the company now accounts for the largest share of freight train kilometres in Great Britain at 31.4%, as well as the largest share of freight vehicle kilometres at 33.3%,.

In recent years GBRf has invested heavily in modern locomotives like the Class 99s, expanded its wagon fleet and improved its facilities across its network.

It moves goods across the country from Fowey to Fort William, and Penmaenmawr to the Isle of Grain, including containers, construction materials, biomass, consumer goods and infrastructure supplies.

Chief executive John Smith OBE, said: “If someone had told us 25 years ago, when we were preparing to run our first train, that we would one day become the UK’s largest rail freight operator, I’m not sure many of us would have believed them. This milestone belongs to the thousands of colleagues, past and present, whose hard work, commitment and belief in the business have helped build GBRf into what it is today.”

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