Victa Westlink Rail
Encyclopedia
Victa Westlink Rail was a railway company based at Derby
, United Kingdom. The company was formed in December 2006 following the liquidation of FM Rail
. It has since been absorbed by Stobart Rail
.
Victa is a well-known name in the rail industry and has been running cargo trains between Hams Hall
and Mossend
since November 2006. Westlink is part of Stobart Group Ltd, which was created in September 2007 following a merger between Westbury Property Fund and Eddie Stobart.
Its stated aim is to run multi-customer trains to attract companies to rail that traditionally have not been able to afford it.
The railway company was running a summer service between Bristol and Minehead (on the West Somerset Railway
) in 2007, using stock hired from Mainline Rail, thus enjoying the distinction of being the only TOC to run timetabled passenger trains on and off a preserved steam railway.
The company are also involved in the rail tour business through Hertfordshire Rail Tours
which was acquired from the failed FM Rail.
Following the merger between Westbury Property Fund and Eddie Stobart, the business was further enhanced by the acquisition of the O'Conner Group by Westlink. O'Conner owns the Widnes Intermodal Rail Depot, a rail terminal connected to the UK's rail network via the West Coast Main Line and lying adjacent to the former AHC warehousing site acquired by Westbury in March 2007.
Westbury also owns the port of Weston in Runcorn
.
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, United Kingdom. The company was formed in December 2006 following the liquidation of FM Rail
FM Rail
FM Rail Limited was a railway spot-hire and charter company based at Derby, United Kingdom. The company was formed in January 2005 following the merging of spot-hire company Fragonset Railways Limited with charter train operating company Merlin Rail Limited...
. It has since been absorbed by Stobart Rail
Stobart Rail
Stobart Rail is a railway freight service operator in the United Kingdom. Stobart Rail now comes under the Stobart Transport and Distribution division of the Stobart Group, and carries intermodal freight for the group...
.
Victa is a well-known name in the rail industry and has been running cargo trains between Hams Hall
Hams Hall
Hams Hall is a place near Lea Marston in North Warwickshire, England, named after the manor house which formerly stood there.-Hams Hall Rail Freight Terminal:http://www.hamshallrailterminal.co.uk...
and Mossend
Mossend
Mossend is a town on the A775, in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, to the east of its larger sister town, Bellshill, and near to the Strathclyde Country Park....
since November 2006. Westlink is part of Stobart Group Ltd, which was created in September 2007 following a merger between Westbury Property Fund and Eddie Stobart.
Its stated aim is to run multi-customer trains to attract companies to rail that traditionally have not been able to afford it.
The railway company was running a summer service between Bristol and Minehead (on the West Somerset Railway
West Somerset Railway
The West Somerset Railway is a railway line that originally linked and in Somerset, England.It opened in 1862 and was extended from Watchet to by the Minehead Railway in 1874. Although just a single track, improvements were needed in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the...
) in 2007, using stock hired from Mainline Rail, thus enjoying the distinction of being the only TOC to run timetabled passenger trains on and off a preserved steam railway.
The company are also involved in the rail tour business through Hertfordshire Rail Tours
Hertfordshire Rail Tours
Hertfordshire Rail Tours was a company that ran charter trains for enthusiasts, named as they were originally based in Hertfordshire. Most of its trains started from London Terminals, although most from London King's Cross. A fair proportion of charter trains used the "Pride of the Nation" dining...
which was acquired from the failed FM Rail.
Following the merger between Westbury Property Fund and Eddie Stobart, the business was further enhanced by the acquisition of the O'Conner Group by Westlink. O'Conner owns the Widnes Intermodal Rail Depot, a rail terminal connected to the UK's rail network via the West Coast Main Line and lying adjacent to the former AHC warehousing site acquired by Westbury in March 2007.
Westbury also owns the port of Weston in Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
.
Fleet details
| Number | Class | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47832 | 47 British Rail Class 47 The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British... |
VWR Black & Silver | Now owned by DRS Direct Rail Services Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought... |