Direct Rail Services (DRS) and Tesco have celebrated 20 years of partnership, a milestone that reflects their commitment to transforming the movement of goods across the UK through sustainable rail freight. The partnership, which began with a single service, has grown into one of the UK’s most successful rail freight operations, with DRS now operating up to 10 services per day on behalf of Tesco.
Nuclear Transport Solutions’ (NTS) rail division, Direct Rail Services (DRS), has strengthened its commitment to operational excellence with the arrival of cutting-edge driver training simulators. The new simulators will play a key role in preparing DRS drivers for the rollout of the European Train Control System (ETCS) across the UK’s rail network, equipping them with the skills and experience needed to operate safely and confidently
Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), through its rail division Direct Rail Services (DRS), has completed a major rail freight campaign supporting a nationally significant environmental protection project in Cumbria. The final train carrying essential aggregate for the Southern Trench Interim Membrane (STIM) project arrived at the Low Level Waste (LLW) Repository around a month ahead of schedule. Since the first train ran in February 2025, NTS
Direct Rail Services (DRS) welcomed pupils from a local school as part of Rail Safety Week 2026. Pupils from Austin Friars School, in Carlisle, located just a mile from DRS’s Kingmoor depot, were welcomed to the rail facility to tour the site and learn more about how DRS operates safely on the railway. The school, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in the next academic
Direct Rail Services (DRS) is pleased to invite expressions of interest in the sale of a number of high‑value surplus rail assets. The sale includes four Class 57 locomotives: • 57304 • 57307 • 57308 • 57309 In addition, a range of associated parts and materials is available, covering Class 57 and Class 37 locomotives, along with MK2 coaching stock components. This represents a strong
We’re disappointed to announce the cancellation of our upcoming open day. Following detailed planning meetings, it became clear we would no longer be able to deliver a successful event which met the expectations of our families, friends and communities, as well as changing health and safety obligations. The decision to cancel this year’s event, especially after tickets have been sold, has not been an easy
Rail Operations Group has announced a new 2-year agreement with Direct Rail Services (DRS) for the storage and maintenance of its Class 93 fleet at the Gresty Bridge depot in Crewe. The agreement will see the fleet supported by DRS’s engineering teams, who will provide storage, servicing and maintenance capability for the locomotives as their deployment across the UK network continues to grow. As an
Direct Rail Services (DRS) organised a first-of-its-kind charity event in Cumbria. The expert rail freight operator staged a photoshoot featuring one of its outstanding Class 68 locomotives and all 25 of its JNA wagons on the Cumbrian Coast Line, the first time a stationary photoshoot has been arranged on the main line at night. The event took place on 18 December 2025, just outside Maryport,
A Direct Rail Services (DRS) train driver has received a coveted award for their quick thinking, courage and compassion. Chris Bray accepted the Rail Hero Award at the prestigious Heart of Gold Awards ceremony, on 26 November. His story is an inspiration and his actions exemplify the spirit celebrated by the Railway Benefit Fund’s (RBF) Heart of Gold Awards, which honour individuals who go above
Direct Rail Services (DRS) has launched a new cross-country service from Daventry to Coatbridge. The service will operate along the 330-mile route, using DRS’s environmentally friendly Class 88 locomotives. Initially launched as a trial, it will be the fourth DRS Anglo Scottish rail service, covering nearly the entire length of England and offering an opportunity for new rail freight customers. Gottfried Eymer, NTS’s Managing Director
