Euston freight workings

[gage75]

With the recent news that Colas Freight Services were awarded a service into Euston
I was wondering if there was any other stations (either termini or through line) hat could also be used in a similar manner also so what stock would be ideally suited, I'm thinking that maybe under used GUV's or even MPV's or something similar to class 325's

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm thinking that maybe under used GUV's or even MPV's or something similar to class 325's

MPVs are all pretty busy working for Network Rail aren't they? And do they even have the ability to move freight around?

As for other stations I think one thing that might be key to the success of such operations is that they are still equipped with platforms that were designed with the handling of parcels/freight/motorail in mind, as that will make unloading a bit simpler (for example thinking about the platform layout at St Pancras it wouldn't be very convenient or easy to unload freight there). So bearing that in mind the station that immediately springs to mind is Paddington. Though of course the question has to be asked what exactly is in the area around Paddington that could be served by freight services into the station overnight?

Of course the other thing that would key to success is determining if there is any traffic that could be effectively transferred to rail and delivered first to a station then onto the destination in London. Unless some quantifiable demand can be found then I suspect we're on a hiding to nothing.

 

[ryan125hst]

So what exactly will these freight trains contain? I'm guessing parcels? It must be rare for freight trains to operate a service into a terminus station.

 

[jopsuk]

The Colas trail is supposedly stock for nearby branches of Tesco- wheeled cages, so it can be rolled off the train into the vans for local delivery, rather than being driven in from depots around the M25 (though presumably each van will have done at least one trip in from a depot, hopefully laden, first)

 

[gage75]

my thought is primarily based on stations that have stores in the local vicinity of them i.e Paddington- Sainsburys, Marks and Spencer and WH Smiths etc..

 

[Penmorfa]

MPVs are all pretty busy working for Network Rail aren't they? And do they even have the ability to move freight around?

They were used in pairs on a freight trial in 2005 from Aberystwyth to Chirk carrying logs. Formed either end of a rake of 7 OTA's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/penmorfas/8020582632/in/photostream

So yes, they do have the ability. Whether any are spare is another matter.

 

[RichmondCommu]

So yes, they do have the ability. Whether any are spare is another matter.

I have a feeling that the company who built them has gone out of business. Would love to be proved wrong though.

 

[John55]

I have a feeling that the company who built them has gone out of business. Would love to be proved wrong though.

They are building the NR electrification train as we post. The owning company went broke some years ago but the specialist raiiway vehicle business was rescued and continues.

 

[ainsworth74]

They were used in pairs on a freight trial in 2005 from Aberystwyth to Chirk carrying logs. Formed either end of a rake of 7 OTA's.

Huh, didn't know that. Interesting, thanks