GB Railfreight Reports 31.4% UK Rail Freight Share

London, UK – GB Railfreight (GBRf) captured a 31.4% share of total freight train kilometres travelled in the UK, according to Office of Rail and Road (ORR) data, making it the country’s largest rail freight operator exactly 25 years after running its first train in 2001.

What Is the Full Scope of This Development?

GB Railfreight now holds a 33.3% share of freight vehicle kilometres in addition to its leading train-kilometre position, and has commenced a CEO succession process while promoting Liam Day to Interim Managing Director and Ian Langton to Chief Operating Officer. The company’s fleet modernisation includes Stadler Class 99 bi-mode locomotives, which received UK operating authorisation in November 2025 and are expected to begin revenue service in early 2026. GBRf also signed a contract with Ab Ovo for an integrated business process software solution designed to enhance sustainability tracking and operational efficiency. No financial terms were disclosed for either the locomotive order or the software agreement.

Key Development Data

How Does This Compare to Industry Trends?

The UK rail freight market was valued at USD 108.15 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 185.31 billion by 2034, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 6.65% from 2026 to 2034 (Source: Market Data Forecast, 2025). GBRf’s 31.4% train-kilometre share places it ahead of competitors in a market where construction materials already account for 54.3% of freight volume, a segment aligned with the operator’s growing aggregates and infrastructure work. Containerised freight retained a 46.8% revenue share in 2025, according to the same analysis, while full carload services are expected to dominate at 52.4% of market value – a split that mirrors GBRf’s intermodal and trainload portfolio. Despite a 3% decline in total UK rail freight volume in the last financial year, the operator is expanding its locomotive fleet and digital capabilities, mirroring broader sector signals such as Alstom’s €393 million contract with Hellenic Train for 23 Coradia Stream EMUs and its 234-vehicle metro car order for Mumbai Line 4 in 2025 (Source: Alstom Q3 2025/26 results, 2025). That sustained equipment investment across passenger and freight rail underscores long-term confidence in rail’s modal shift potential.

Editor’s Analysis

GBRf’s ascension to market leader coincides with a deliberate leadership handover and a step-change in traction technology: the Class 99 bi-mode locomotives—capable of electric and diesel operation—will directly reduce emissions on unelectrified branches and intermodal corridors. The concurrent adoption of an integrated business process platform from Ab Ovo suggests the company is building data architecture to support sustainability reporting and operational forecasting as regulatory pressure mounts. With the UK rail freight market growing at over 6.5% annually but wrestling with short-term volume contraction, GBRf’s investment posture indicates a bet that infrastructure-driven construction demand and decarbonisation mandates will absorb the new capacity once the locomotives enter revenue service in 2026.

FAQ

Q: What is GB Railfreight’s exact market share in the UK?
A: The company holds 31.4% of total freight train kilometres and 33.3% of total freight vehicle kilometres, according to the latest Office of Rail and Road figures.

Q: When will GBRf’s new Class 99 locomotives start carrying freight?
A: The Class 99 locomotives received UK operating authorisation in late 2025 and are expected to begin revenue-generating services in early 2026, though no specific in-service date has been published.

Q: Who will replace John Smith as CEO of GB Railfreight?
A: The CEO succession process has begun, but the name of the incoming chief executive has not been officially announced. Liam Day serves as Interim Managing Director during the transition.