Doncaster job fears as rail freight operator is put up for sale
There are fears for jobs across the company
There are fears for Doncaster jobs after one of Britain’s biggest rail freight operators was put up for sale.
DB Cargo UK, part of the German state owned rail group Deutsche Bahn, is working with advisers at Interpath on an auction, with talks already underway with prospective bidders, according to reports.
The company has its UK headquarters in Carolina Way, Lakeside.
DB Cargo UK employs about 2,200 people, according to its website, providing freight, infrastructure and passenger charter trains across the UK, as well as freight services to and from mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel.
Reports suggest that DB Cargo UK's loss-making German parent planned to cut more than 6,000 jobs in its home market by 2030 - equating to roughly half its workforce in the country.
The precise financial position of its UK operations is unclear.
In a statement, DB Cargo said it remained "one of the UK's leading rail freight operators, with a strong track record of delivering safe, reliable and efficient services for customers across a diverse range of sectors".
It added: "As we look to the future and pursue our growth ambitions, we are seeking a new owner who can provide access to additional capital, broader market opportunities and the scale needed to support the next phase of the company's development.
"Our current shareholder, DB Cargo AG, has advised that its strategic focus will increasingly be on its core Central European operations, which are currently undergoing major restructuring following the European Commission's recent State Aid ruling."
The company added that its UK management board had hired legal and financial advisers "to support a process aimed at securing a new owner capable of unlocking DB Cargo UK's full future potential".
"We are confident that this represents the best path to long-term growth and a sustainable future for the business.
"Throughout this process, DB Cargo UK will continue to provide customers with the safe, reliable and high-quality service they expect."