Who are Fastline ?

[Midland Compound]

I don't follow the freight scene much, so this may be a stupid question, but can anyone tell me who Fastline are ?

I'd seen the name before on a couple of 56s on Freightliners on the WCML, but today I saw Fastline 66302 with DRS 66415 hauling a coal train near Trent. Half of the wagons said GBRF on them, and the other half said Fastline. Can anyone explain this ?

[John Hunt]

http://www.fastline-uk.com/

[swisstrains]

I notice at the bottom of their webpage it says "Jarvis plc"

[Flying Pig]

Yup, the word on the street is that they're the tamper boys who bought a few locos and started their own freight operation - hence the assortment of hired-in rolling stock.

[danphi11ips]

Does anyone know what times the Fastlines run through Brisol Parkway or Temple Meads. I know on a Staurday Morning there is a service from avonmouth and weekdays there are services to/from Portbury.

Just wandering if anyone could help with times.

Thanks a lot
Dan

[Midland Compound]

Thanks for the info, but the website doesn't mention any class 66s at all, nor explain why they should be double heading with a DRS loco - is that hired in ?

[KingtonTramBasher]

Originally Posted by danphi11ips

Does anyone know what times the Fastlines run through Brisol Parkway or Temple Meads.

How accurate (ie, early or late) it is I don't know, but 66301 was seen in Bristol TM at 1500 on Thursday 22nd January 2009, captured on my camcorder at that time (maybe slightly earlier, no earlier than 1455) too.

I hear the times change each week though, which is not a lot of use to you or me (I still need two of the 66s for sight), Freightmaster will have the relevant gen though.

[danphi11ips]

I still need to see all 5 66's and 2 of the 56's!

Thanks for the help!!

Dan

[John Hunt]

56.301 + 66.301 + 66.303 + 66.305 all seen at Derby today.

[SalopianGrowler]

Originally Posted by Midland Compound

Thanks for the info, but the website doesn't mention any class 66s at all, nor explain why they should be double heading with a DRS loco - is that hired in ?

DRS 66s hired in to help with the extra work and cover FLF 66s.

Fastline is a part of Jarvis, and was initially set up for container traffic between Grain and Doncaster using 56s (56301-303), but after winning a contract with E-on, moved into the coal game, and are running to Ironbridge and Ratcliffe.