Behind the scenes: the numbers that drive freight
Bessie Matthews of GB Railfreight sheds light on the impressive numbers that keep Britain’s freight trains on track.
Throughout 2025 I took note of almost everything I drove at work: loco numbers, tonnage, SLUs (standard length units – around 21ft), dangerous goods, mileage… the list goes on!
2025 was my first full year as a mainline freight driver, and it was a busy one. Over 234 shifts, in sunshine, fog, sideways rain, snow, and beautiful moonlight, I covered 28,061 miles, hauled 379,176 tonnes, and moved 32,294 SLUs around the network. I also safely delivered 185 loads of dangerous goods over the course of the year.
The distance I travelled is enough to go around the Earth and start heading back again. It sounds dramatic, but the reality is a thousand small, steady decisions made correctly, shift after shift. The weight is just as eye-opening. In total, I hauled the equivalent of around 1.9 billion washing machines. Moving that weight safely by rail means thousands of lorry journeys that didn’t need to happen. Fewer vehicles on the road, lower emissions, and a safer transport system overall are wins worth celebrating.
Freight is big, heavy, and always varied, and my first full year on the mainline has taught me more than any year before it. The mileage matters because it brings exposure to different routes, different loads, different conditions, and the unexpected bits in between. Each shift adds another layer of understanding, and over a full year that learning really compounds.
Spending that much time in the cab builds confidence in handling long, heavy trains, reading how they behave, and knowing when to be patient and when to be proactive. It’s also where the wider railway starts to make more sense, like how planning decisions play out in real life, how signallers and controllers fit into the picture, and how much relies on clear communication and shared understanding. None of that can be rushed, it only comes with time and miles on the clock.
What really excites me is taking this mindset into 2026. Another year of learning, refining skills, sharing good practice, and continuing to build a strong safety culture within freight. The railway never stands still, and neither do we. Whether it’s new routes, new challenges, or simply getting better at the job we already do.
The numbers are fun to look back on, but safety is what makes them meaningful. And as I head into 2026, I’m proud of what’s been achieved, and I’m genuinely excited for what comes next.