Pentalver Mercedes-Benz Actros splitting-skelly trailer with containers

Genesse & Wyoming (G&W), the United States-based rail freight company, has completed its takeover of Pentalver for an undisclosed sum.

The deal, which was announced in December, sees G&W, which also owns multimodal operator Freightliner, acquire the container haulier from parent APM Terminals.

Pentalver will continue to be run by MD Chris Lawrenson. It will operate as part of G&W’s UK/Europe region, led by Russell Mears.

G&W said the deal will boost its UK service by utilising both Pentalver’s 150-strong fleet and Freightliner’s fleet of around 250 trucks, which the latter uses for local collections and deliveries from its inland rail terminals nationwide.

It added that the acquisition also enhances its UK rail and storage options both inland and at Pentalver’s port sites including Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway and Tilbury.

Speaking when the tie-up was announced last year, Lawrenson said: “Joining the G&W group is an opportunity to enhance the services, capabilities and capacity of Pentalver, and - along with subsidiaries such as Freightliner - together we will have the ability to offer services to all UK customers.

"The future is exciting and will be a major step change in the UK container intermodal market,” he added.