FEA-S GBRf (ex-Metronet) yellow no container (twin pack) - 640907 & 640918 (Pack 1)

The FEA design first appeared in early 2003 with 60ft FEA-B twin container flats built by Greenbrier Europe at Świdnica for Freightliner’s Intermodal business. Around 18 months later, single-unit variants—largely intended for infrastructure traffic—entered service. All were mounted on Y33 bogies and outwardly similar, regardless of TOPS suffix, apart from Network Rail’s later RHTT-specific type.

Initial customers for the singles included Balfour Beatty, which acquired six grey FEA-D wagons (640571–6) for Harsco New Track Construction trains, and GB Railfreight (GBRf), which purchased 63 steel-blue FEA-S (640631–93). These carried 20ft ‘Salmon’ track panel and ‘Tench’ materials modules, though many later handled conventional containers, including maritime boxes and gypsum traffic. Freightliner Heavy Haul followed with 66 FEA-E (641001–641066) from late 2004, painted green and often used in both infrastructure and container or ‘binliner’ waste flows.

In 2006, GBRf introduced 18 bright yellow FEA-S (640905–22) for Metronet’s London Underground renewals, preceded by four blue examples. A further 22 yellow wagons were supplied to Transplant for a Rail and Sleeper Delivery Train fitted with ‘Slinger’ equipment. Subsequent infrastructure fleet renewals and organisational changes saw most FEAs migrate to container duties, while specialised formations were dismantled and equipment removed.