A HAMPSHIRE-based container transport firm has been bought by a US rail company.

Pentalver, part of AP Moller-Maersk’s terminals business, has sold Pentalver, which has its HQ in Southampton, to Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

G&W) – a global operator of short line and regional railroads and the parent company of Freightliner, the largest transporter and inland rail terminal operator for the movement of deep sea maritime containers in the UK.

It employs 178 staff in Southampton and their site in the docks covers 25 acres.

Pentalver also operates off-dock terminals at Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway and Tilbury, as well as an inland terminal at Cannock in the Midlands.

In total it has more than 100 acres of land for storage for loaded and empty containers and operates a fleet of more than 150 trucks.

The firm also provides container maintenance and repair services and is one of the largest sellers of new and used containers in the UK.

Freightliner owns and operates two rail facilities in Southampton, which cover 32 acres and handle in excess of 290,000 containers a year. The larger maritime terminal is located within the port and utilises the straddle carriers operated by DP World.

From Southampton, Freightliner runs 15 trains daily and in excess of 430 wagons each way per day to Birmingham, Cardiff, Teesport, Coatbridge, Daventry, Ditton, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. 

As well as running container trains from the major ports, Freightliner has a fleet of 250 lorries providing local collection and delivery from its inland terminals. 

G&W says it is looking to exploit the synergies between the two businesses.

Jack Hellmann, president and chief executive officer of G&W, said: “With the advent of larger container ships and the growth of distribution centres in the Midlands and throughout the UK, our maritime intermodal customers are seeking greater service optionality, which includes not only rail and road transport but also the ability to store, maintain and position containers. 

"Amid the dramatic changes that are structurally altering the global shipping industry, we are pleased to be enhancing our service capabilities to meet the long term needs of our intermodal customers in the UK.”

The deal is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017.

Pentalver will continue to be run by its current managing director Chris Lawrenson, and will operate as part of G&W’s UK / Europe Region. 

Mr Lawrenson said: “Joining the G&W group is a massive opportunity to enhance the services, capabilities and overall capacity of Pentalver and along with subsidiaries such as Freightliner together we will have the ability to offer great services to all customers in the UK.”