ESG is part of Europe's largest rail engineering consultancy, DB Systemtechnik (DBST). It was previously the technical hub of DB Schenker in the UK. ESG is based in Derby and is highly active in the passenger rolling stock sector. ESG also provides specialist Refranchising Support to transport operating groups.
DB Schenker (formerly English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd) was
launched in February 1996 after the company acquired
British Rail's freight operations - Rail Express Systems, Loadhaul,
Transrail Freight and Mainline Freight, followed by the purchase
of the National Power Rail Unit and
Railfreight Distribution.
These were merged to form EWS, a company
that was able to provide customers with a nationwide and European
network of rail freight services, engineering support and services to
the rail industry. All these companies were branded EWS, apart from
Railfreight Distribution which was branded EWS International.
Since 1996, EWS strongly marketed its nationwide
service abilities and has successfully played a major role in growing
rail freight in Britain. This has increased by over 50% since 1996, and
rail currently has a 12% market share of all land hauled freight in
Britain.
In 2007, Deutsche Bahn bought EWS and, following
successful integration into the overall company structure (which had
over 200K employees), changed its name in January 2009 to DB Schenker
Rail (UK) Ltd. DB Schenker aims to be the leading rail freight operator across
Europe.
An inter-group transfer in 2011 placed ESG and related company Railway Approvals Limited (RAL) as subsidiaries of DB Systemtechnik, with offices in the UK, France and Germany itself, but with capabilities and skills that extend cross-border throughout Europe and that are increasingly recognised as applicable worldwide
ESG has access to DBST's technical expertise, facilities and products including 650 engineers and 18 Test Laboratories across Germany. ESG combines the responsiveness of a smaller business with large company leverage and international coverage.