Category: News

Hector Rail and Trätåg AB has agreed that Hector Rail with short notice begins to operate the so-called "Trätågs-concept". This means that Hector Rail will transport about 2.5 million cubic meters of round wood from various timber terminals to a number of mills in central Sweden. The first trains are expected to be in operation before Christmas. The agreement is for five years. Hector Rail will initially operate like today's set-up, but will in a future situation streamline the production by inserting completely new electric locomotives in the service. These locomotives mean a more rational production by larger and heavier trains and the locomotives can at the terminals operate without the catenary and the locos can be remote controlled. Among the major terminals Lomsmyren in Mora, Vansbro and Ljusdal can…

Mats Nyblom will step down as Managing Director for Hector Rail AB, but will remain as an advisor to the Hector Rail Group. Mats Nyblom has elected to leave his position as Managing Director (MD) of Hector Rail AB on December 23, 2016. He will thereafter remain as an advisor to the newly formed Hector Rail Group. "Having founded Hector Rail twelve years ago and acted as Managing Director ever since, it is now time for me and Hector Rail to move on. It has been a fantastic experience to build such a reputable company together with our employees, customers and suppliers. The timing is now right for me to step down and hand over to the next generation." says Mats Nyblom "There would be no Hector Rail without Mats…

Hector Rail’s owner EQT Infrastructure II has submitted an irrevocable offer to acquire GB Railfreight, UK’s third largest rail freight operator. The proposed acquisition is an integral part of EQT Infrastructure II’s strategy to create a leading independent pan-European rail freight operator through the expansion of Hector Rail Group. The intent is to integrate GB Railfreight into Hector Rail Group, if the offer is accepted. EQT Infrastructure II has via Hector Rail Group submitted an irrevocable offer to acquire GB Railfreight Limited from Groupe Eurotunnel SE. The acquisition is subject to consultation with Groupe Eurotunnel’s staff representative bodies, after which EQT Infrastructure II and Groupe Eurotunnel are ready to quickly move forward with the transaction and enter into binding agreements. Founded in 1999 by the current CEO John Smith, GB…

Hector Rail has entered into an agreement with Skandinaviska Jernbanor to haul their so-called "Blue Train" between Stockholm and Gothenburg. This means that the Blue Train is back on the market from and including 11 December 2016. The Blue Train is a popular passenger train which focuses on the genuine travel experience and with a high level of service and the on-board food. Blue Train began operating December 11, 2011 and has since its inception been a unique offering in the Swedish travel market. Scandinavian Jernbanor, the company behind the "Blue Train", has decided to hire Hector Rail as responsible for the formal train production including providing traction. Skandinaviska Jernbanor will focus on its core business, the travel experience. “The Blue Train” takes railways proud tradition as a way to…

Hector Rail and Stora Enso have agreed to continue cooperation to transport timber from Norway to mills in Skoghall (Karlstad) and Grums until end of 2022. The cooperation began in 2008 and the business has since then tripled the volumes. As part of the modernisation of the business will Hector Rail insert freight wagons with larger profile and introduce new locomotives, which means better environmental adaptation and more streamlined operations. The service means transports of approximately 1.5 million cubic meters of timber from a number of terminals in Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen. The new arrangement will be introduced by 2018 and means that Hector Rail is developing the wagon fleet with larger profile. The new arrangement has a strong focus on the environment, rationality and quality. A large part of the…

Hector Rail has signed an agreement with Siemens for the delivery of five new locomotives of the so-called Vectron type. The locomotives are electric, designed for the Scandinavian market and equipped with so-called "Extra mile" function. This means that the locos have a diesel engine installed and that they are equipped with radio control. This allows efficient shunting in and out of terminals possible without having access to a separate shunting loco. Under the agreement, there is an option to buy a further 15 locomotives until 2021. The new locomotives are equipped with the new railway safety systems ETCS. Two locomotives are already built and will be delivered in 2016. These two locomotives are equipped with conventional safety systems and without extra mile functionality. The remaining locomotives will be delivered…

Hector Rail has purchased ten (+ five as spare part supply) used six axle locomotives for the German market. Hector Rail has invested heavily in refurbishment of the locos and the first loco is now ready for operation in a condition as new, or even better than new. With this class of locos Hector Rail has a cost efficient and powerful locomotive to serve customers on the German market. Hector Rail always puts innovation into everything we do. When refurbishing the locos we increased the tractive effort and we also installed air conditioning into the drivers cab (initially not into the first loco, but the fleet will be equipped). This is an important improvement to make the locos in line with driver expectations of today. This year three locos will…

After several years of construction of passing tracks for long trains and the expansion of double track, it is now possible for the 730-meter-long freight trains to operate regular on the Swedish railways. First up is Hector Rail. Trials with longer trains between Hallsberg- Malmö has gone well and now Hector Rail has begun to run the 730-meter freight trains between Malmö and Katrineholm and between Malmö and Hallsberg. Sweden has for years built new passing tracks for a maximum of 750 meter long trains. Along with expanded double tracks and other types of measures, the investment now starts to pay dividends. Intensive efforts between the Swedish Transport Administration and Hector Rail has resulted in it now rolls 730 meters long freight trains in regular service in Sweden. Longer trains…

The night between 21 and 22 March operated Hector Rail on behalf of Bane Danmark (Danish Infrastructure Authority) a test train with a speed of 235.8 km / h. It is speed record for trains in Denmark. Hector Rail was acting as operator and provided locomotives and drivers for the tests that were conducted on behalf of Bane Danmark. The tests took place at the Great Belt Bridge and the highest achieved speed was 235.8 km / h, setting a new speed record for trains in Denmark. It is Hector Rail's ambition to constantly take the railway to new levels and this is a good example to visualise this ambition. The locomotive used in the tests is a so-called "Taurus locomotive". The locomotives are built and approved for 230 km…

Hector Rail has purchased 10 six axle locos from DB Schenker (DB Class 151). The locos are built in the mid-seventies. The delivery of the locos will take place during 2016 and 2017. The locomotives are powerful but still much more cost efficient to purchase compared to new locomotives. This makes them an attractive solution in the segment of short distance heavy transports. But they are also an attractive alternative for other segments in the railway market such as intermodal transports. In order secure a cost efficient refurbishment and to secure spare part supply in the future operation a total of 15 locomotives have been purchased. Five of the locomotives will be used as spare part donors. With this type of locomotives Hector Rail can provide a new concept to…