Advenza Freight
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail freight transport |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Defunct | October 7, 2009 |
| Fate | Closure following winding-up petition by HM Revenue & Customs |
| Headquarters | Gloucester , England, United Kingdom |
| Parent | Cotswold Rail (from 2005) |
Advenza Freight was a rail freight operator headquartered in Gloucester, England, and formed part of the Cotswold Rail group before its closure in October 2009.
History
Established in 2001, Advenza secured its safety case in 2002 and received an operational licence from the Rail Regulator in November 2003. Initially, the firm aimed to obtain guaranteed train paths from Network Rail, but was only allocated "spot bid" access, which restricted the ability to provide consistent services. After further discussions and regulatory concessions, the company intended to launch containerised pallet freight routes between Barking, London and Glasgow in April 2004; however, problems with locomotives and system readiness postponed the start.
Following financial restructuring, the introduction of new investors, and the acquisition of fixed train paths, the "FreightBus" service commenced in October 2004, running nightly between Willesden, London and Mossend, Glasgow. This Class 1 freight operation utilised EWS Class 90 locomotives capable of speeds up to 110 mph. Although the service maintained punctuality, it was not commercially viable and was subsequently discontinued; the company was then placed on the market.
In 2005, Cotswold Rail purchased Advenza primarily for its safety case credentials. By 2006, Advenza had obtained approval to operate passenger trains across the UK rail network. Apart from supporting Cotswold Rail’s passenger charter services, Advenza managed rolling stock movements and ran scrap metal freight trains on routes including Stockton on Tees to Cardiff, Shipley, and from Hitchin to Sheerness. In 2008, the company began leasing 102t GLW box wagons from VTG and briefly operated a fly ash service from West Burton Power Station to Tilbury starting in June 2009.
Advenza Freight ceased operations on 7 October 2009 following a winding-up petition filed by HM Revenue & Customs due to outstanding tax liabilities.
Fleet
The company’s locomotive roster included two Class 47 units (47237 and 47375), two Class 57 locomotives (57005 and 57006), and four Class 66 engines (66841–66844). The Class 66 locomotives were acquired during the summer of 2009 shortly before Advenza's closure; it is thought that unit 66843 never entered revenue service.
Additionally, Advenza leased other types such as Class 20 locomotives and operated trains on behalf of Cotswold Rail under its passenger operating licence.