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DB Schenker Rail (UK), previously known as English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS), is the largest British rail freight company. It was created as a result of the break-up of British Rail during the 1990s and is now a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG. EWS was established by a consortium led by Wisconsin Central Ltd in 1996. Canadian National bought Wisconsin Central in 2001, and held approximately 30% of the company. English, Welsh and Scottish Railway was acquired by Deutsche Bahn AG on 28 June 2007.[3] Initially it was announced that EWS would not be rebranded,[4] but on 1 January 2009 EWS, along with DB's other existing freight organisations Railion and their freight logistics organisation Schenker AG were re-branded DB Schenker.[5]
[edit] History
The first stage of the creation of EWS occurred at 0500 on Saturday 9 December 1995 when it was announced that Rail Express Systems had been sold to a consortium led by Wisconsin Central for £25.7 million and renamed North & South Railways Ltd. Included in the sale were 164 locomotives, 677 vans, depots at Crewe, Bristol Barton Hill, Cambridge and Euston Downside (London), and 800 staff. North & South Railways confirmed that it was bidding for all three of the former BR trainload freight companies: Trans-Rail, Mainline Freight and Load-Haul.  The UK Government had hoped to sell the three trainload freight companies as separate businesses to encourage competition. Few bidders were interested in individual companies because of the threat of competition from the other two, but the outright purchase of all three was an attractive proposition. By December 1995, there were just two bidders in the running for the trainload companies:
In early 1996 it was announced that Wisconsin Central/North & South Railways was the preferred bidder, and on 24 February 1996 the contract was signed. Later that day the formal handover from BRB chairman John Welsby to Wisconsin Central President Ed Burkhardt took place at a ceremony at London’s Marylebone station. Burkhardt announced several plans for the following two years: 
£225.15 million was paid for the three trainload freight businesses, which carried 88.7 million tonnes of freight the previous year with a turnover of £559 million. Some critics said that the figure paid was less than the 10% of their replacement value, estimated at an astonishing £3 billion, as they were the only profitable national freight businesses in Europe. Subsequently, Wisconsin Central/North & South Railways purchased Railfreight Distribution and National Power's railfreight operation. In 2001, Canadian National bought Wisconsin Central and so became overall owners of EWS. [edit] Acquisition of EWS by Deutsche BahnOn 28 June 2007, it was announced at a press conference held by Deutsche Bahn AG (DB), EWS and Spanish rail forwarder Transfesa that DB was to acquire all the shares in EWS as soon as contracts were signed.[3] Initially it was announced that EWS would not be rebranded,[4] but on 1 January 2009 EWS, DB's existing Freight organisation Railion and their freight logistics organisation DB Schenker were re-branded DB Schenker.[6] As part of a formal launch of the new brand,[7] a Class 59 locomotive 59206 was unveiled in full DB Schenker branding at a ceremony at the National Railway Museum in York. Class 66 number 66152 became the third loco to receive the new DB Schenker colour scheme. The next loco's to receive the colours of DB Schenker were Class 37's, 37419 and 37670.[8] [edit] Traction and rolling stock
DB Schenker Rail are working to enable Class 92 trains to operate freight services on High Speed 1. The project has received funding from the European Commission and it is anticipated services will being in early 2010.[9][10] [edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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