Third time lucky for ill fated Freightliner sale?
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• Freightliner, the loss making container subsidiary of Rail Freight Distribution, is being put up for sale for a third time with extra incentives for potential buyers.
Bids for the inter-modal operator that lost £38m on a turnover of f78111 last year must be in by 2 February 1996. Likely buyers include the shipping line Maersk and a consortium of P&O Distribution and con
tainer haulier Russell Davies.
An nou need by Tra n sport Minister Sir George Young at last week's Conservative Party conference. the Freightliner package is thought to include a fixed five-year deal with the track provider, Railtrack. The Government is believed to have allocated A:14rn to pay track access grant—just £2m was paid out last year.
But Murray Hughes, editor of Railway Gazette. says the business has changed dramatically since the last attempt to sell it: "Freightliner has undergone massive restructuring over the past year, but like all the other sales it is politically motivated. Everyone is waiting to see if any real money comes forward, otherwise it will probably he given away."