Multimodal’s ‘Rail Freight Company of the Year,’ Freightliner, is investing in a new era of modernization
For more than six decades, Freightliner has been at the forefront of intermodal logistics, combining industry expertise, innovation, and operational excellence to deliver solutions that keep businesses moving – rail and road. Initially founded as a division of British Railways in 1965, the company has evolved into the UK’s largest maritime intermodal operator and a multi-award-winning logistics provider, offering a fully integrated service that spans rail, road, and strategically located inland terminals.
Following CMA CGM’s acquisition of Freightliner in January 2026, the company is entering a new era while maintaining its focus to provide dependable and flexible logistics solutions that its customers can count on when it matters most. In terms of its rail operations, one key evolution is the major expansion of its short liner wagon fleet, supplied by legacy trailer manufacturer, W.H. Davis.
“This has been a great investment, and we’re really pleased that these wagons are being built here in the UK,” begins Michael Leadbetter, Director of Intermodal Operations (Rail) at Freightliner. “They are short liner wagons which are 40-feet long, which means that we could run up to 48 wagons on an individual service, increasing our efficiency. We currently operate a fleet of around 320 short liner wagons, so this investment will build up our fleet by another 50 percent. We’re all about doing new things to drive efficiency, and this represents a really good investment by CMA CGM in building up Freightliner for the future.”
While expanding the wagon fleet will increase capacity, this investment represents just one pillar of Freightliner’s long-term investment strategy. The business is equally focused on reducing the environmental impact of rail freight, with electrification playing a central role in its journey towards a lower-carbon future.
“A train powered by diesel is around 76 percent more carbon-efficient than road transport, which is great. For a long time, that was the tagline of the rail industry. We’ve always thought about how we can do even better, and electric traction brings us down to near-zero carbon in terms of train service,” Michael explains.
“Today, we’re the biggest freight operator of electric traction in the UK, operating a Class 90 fleet. The UK has a challenging infrastructure for electric traction compared to some other European countries; very little of the network is actually electrified. However, we’re really keen to work with industry partners, such as Network Rail, to drive that carbon reduction. It’s a key part of our development moving forward.”
With a firm focus on efficiency, Freightliner is also helping to drive innovation beyond electrification. In partnership with Network Rail and GeoPura, the company has completed Britain’s first rail transport of hydrogen, successfully hauling gas containers from Doncaster to High Marnham. The milestone forms part of a wider industry showcase of hydrogen technologies, including the debut of a re-engineered hydrogen-powered shunting locomotive, highlighting the rail sector’s continued progress towards a net-zero future.
“Hydrogen had never been moved by rail before, and it is clearly a fuel for the future, so we were really keen that rail transportation isn’t excluded as an option,” Michael comments. “There are plenty of challenges around moving hydrogen by rail in terms of its volatility, but it was great for us to do the trial and showcase that it can be done. We already have inquiries from customers about doing that on a commercial basis, so we’re really pleased with how the trial went, what it demonstrated, and what it could lead to in the future.”
By championing this dynamic approach to innovation, Freightliner garners exceptional recognition throughout the industry, particularly through its most recent achievement, winning ‘Rail Freight Company of the Year’ at the Multimodal Awards 2026.
“We’re really proud to have won that award – it’s a fantastic achievement,” Michael reflects. “The reason we’re so proud of it is because it’s voted for by peers and industry colleagues, so it really recognizes the level and quality of the service that we deliver. A big focus for us post-acquisition was about having one team that delivers, so being able to share that award with our staff shows that they’re doing a really good job.”
As Freightliner enters its next chapter under the ownership of CMA CGM, it continues to build upon its proud heritage of more than 60 years while looking firmly to the future.
Whether it’s moving millions of maritime containers across the UK every year, providing rapid rail connections, or delivering seamless end-to-end transport solutions, the company’s continued investment in fleet expansion, pioneering technologies, and lower-carbon transport solutions is key to maintaining its position as a leader in UK intermodal logistics.
“We’ll continue to be a safe, high-performing operator that delivers a good service to our customers,” Michael emphasizes. “We operate from all three of the UK’s deep sea ports, and in recent years, we’ve seen that shipping lines have moved vessels between these ports due to global demands and geopolitical circumstances. Perhaps previously that would’ve been challenging, but we’re trying to see ourselves as being flexible enough to move our capacity between those ports so we can meet our customers’ needs.
“Looking ahead, we want to continue our innovation journey, particularly in terms of investing in electronic processes and new assets, such as the wagons,” he concludes. “For us, it’s all about using that efficiency to grow the market and provide rail as a real part of the solution in terms of delivery as we go forward.”
For Michael and the wider Freightliner team, success is measured not only by operational performance or industry recognition, but by consistently delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable logistics solutions that businesses can depend on. With a growing network, an unwavering commitment to innovation, and the backing of one of the world’s leading shipping and logistics groups, Freightliner is well-positioned to help shape the future of freight transport in the UK for many more decades to come.
