Shipping giant CMA CGM has bought rail freight operator Freightliner 海角视频 Intermodal Logistics – and says the move will help it to shift more transport from road to rail.
CMA CGM, whose 海角视频 head office is in Liverpool, has acquired Freightliner’s 海角视频 rail and road operations and its inland terminals, as well as the Freightliner brand.
Marseille-based group CMA CGM says the deal will make it “a key player in rail logistics in the 海角视频” and says the move “reaffirms its commitment to supporting the modal shift from road to rail”. Birmingham-based Freightliner will remain a standalone business within the group. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
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The deal for Freightliner’s 海角视频 business is set to close early next year, subject to regulatory approval. Other Freightliner businesses – the Heavy Haul rail freight train business, Rotterdam Rail Feeding, and Freightliner Poland/Germany – will remain under existing ownership.
Freightliner 海角视频 has its head office in Birmingham city centre. It has road and rail terminals in locations including Birmingham, Cardiff, Doncaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, London Gateway and Southampton.
Its Manchester rail freight terminal is central to plans to redevelop Old Trafford and to build a 100,000 seat "Wembley of the North" there. The terminal would need to move out of the city for those plans to become reality, but they have reportedly stalled because of an impasse over the value of the land. BusinessLive asked CMA CGM what its purchase means for the Old Trafford plans, but a spokesperson declined to comment on individual depots.
CMA CGM said: “The addition of Freightliner opens the way to significant enhanced-value offerings: developing comprehensive intermodal offerings combining maritime, rail, and road; enhancing connectivity between Europe’s major ports and the 海角视频 hinterland through strategically located inland terminals; and driving shared innovation in decarbonised logistics solutions.”
Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, said: “The acquisition of Freightliner, a leading rail freight operator, strengthens our intermodal presence in the United Kingdom, a strategic market for CMA CGM.
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“It enables us to connect sea, rail and road more efficiently, delivering better solutions for our customers.
“It is also a concrete step in expanding lower-carbon transport options, supporting both their needs and the decarbonisation of global trade.”
Tim Shoveller, CEO of Freightliner Group, said: “This transaction marks an exciting new chapter for Intermodal and Heavy Haul, allowing each to focus on their distinct markets under separate ownership.
“The Intermodal business will become a stand-alone business within CMA CGM’s portfolio, with opportunities to collaborate with other arm’s length CMA CGM companies. Heavy Haul will continue its growth journey in the bulk materials sector under a new brand with a clear focus on strengthening its position as a key freight operator. Our customers will continue to receive the same high-quality leadership and operational teams, and we have robust plans in place to ensure a smooth transition of ownership.”
CMA CGM was founded in 1978 and operates across 400 offices in 160 countries, with 160,000 employees and more than 650 vessels worldwide. In 2024 it saw global revenues of more than $55.5bn.
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