Axiom Rail was created in April 2005 by English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS), after EWS had aquired the assets of wagon suspension developer and supplier Probotec Ltd., Cardiff ("Professional Bogie Technologies", until 2004: Powell Duffryn Rail).

English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) was founded in 1996 as a railfreight operator following privatisation of British Rail. In 2007 EWS was sold to Deutsche Bahn AG and in 2009 rebranded as DB Schenker Rail UK. Since Axiom Rail is a subsidairy of DB Schenker Rail UK. In March 2016 DB Schenker Rail UK was renamed DB Cargo UK.

Production of bogie parts and assembling is carried out by subcontractor CKD Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic.

History of Probotec/Powell Duffryn
1810     Thomas Powell aquiered land near Newport/Wales and began coal mining.

1864     After Thomas Powell died in 1863 his company (16 mines, about 6000 employees) was sold,
            Foundation Powell Duffryn Company

1935     Powell Duffryn included Cambrian Wagon Works Limited (until 1906 Cardifff Rolling Stock Company).

1986     Acquisition of Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company

2002     Acquisition of Meridian Rail Europe (formerly ABC Naco Europe)

2004     Rebranding in Probotec


Sources:
Probotec: Innovation for Rail (brochure, available at InnoTrans 2004)
Railway Gazette: Railway Gazette: Raising loads and lowering charges )Issue 1 Nov 2003;
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/raising-loads-and-lowering-charges.html)
Railway Gazette: EWS acquires bogie portfolio (Issue 1 Jun 2005;
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/ews-acquires-bogie-portfolio.html)
Trelleborg Industrial AVS: Trelleborg mountings for EWS RailFreight bogies (http://www.trelleborg.com/en/IndustrialAVS/News/Trelleborg-mountings-for-EWS-RailFreight-bogies/; Last updated: 2007-09-04)