US rail group Genesee & Wyoming (G&W), a short-line railway which owns or maintains interests in 112 railroads in five countries, has agreed to buy Freightliner Group from Arcapita, the majority shareholder since 2008, reports Lloyd's Loading List.

Freightliner and G&W said the change "will not have any impact on the day to day operations. All existing arrangements for each of Freightliner's companies and staff will remain unaltered", the companies' joint statement said.

"Genesee & Wyoming brings additional investment firepower, extended international reach and rail infrastructure expertise to add to the existing strengths of Freightliner," said Freightliner CEO Russell Mears.

Freightliner Group is a London-based rail freight and logistics company, formed in the United Kingdom in 1995, now the largest intermodal freight transport operator in the United Kingdom.

Said G&W chief executive Jack Hellmann: "The acquisition of Freightliner is an excellent fit. We are excited to be adding a world class intermodal and heavy haul franchise in the United Kingdom that will be the foundation of G&W's European Region."

Freightliner Group includes Freightliner Ltd, Britain's largest transporter and inland terminal operator for the movement of containers, along with operations across mainland Europe and Australia.

Its operations include ERS Railways, which provides cross-border intermodal services connecting the northern European ports of Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, and Hamburg to key cities in Germany, Poland, Italy and beyond.

Freightliner Poland and Germany provides bulk rail freight services including coal, aggregates and other bulk commodities within Poland and Germany and cross border

Freightliner Australia transports coal and containerised agricultural products for customers in New South Wales and is an accredited rail service provider in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

Freightliner Middle East is involved in developing rail services to support this rapidly growing region, and recently signed a contract to support the development of rail freight services in Saudi Arabia, said the joint statement.

Alongside its UK container haulage business, Freightliner Group's other UK operations include Freightliner Heavy Haul, a leading UK bulk rail freight company, and Freightliner Maintenance, which offers infrastructure services and maintenance solutions for rolling stock in the UK.

Connecticut-based G&W owns short line and regional freight railways in the US, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium.