From the mid-1980s onwards the previously monolithic structure of BR’s freight operation was split up, with several new businesses created as a prelude to privatisation, such as Loadhaul, Transrail and Mainline, each with a separate identity. EWS was to take control of the bulk of the rail freight business when it successfu- lly bid for all 3 of the former BR trainload freight companies. The other main player in the rail freight business was Freightliner.The rail freight business was one of the few areas that allowed unfettered competition, and over the decade since privatisation this resulted in a host of new operators such as DRS and GB Railfreight entering the business.Moreover, the two original main players; EWS and Freightliner, have started to compete with each other more directly… AS NEW #0321