Highland Spring siding Blackford

[fgwrich]

To end the doom and gloom on here, DRS ran up to Blackford tonight, presumably dropping off empty containers ready to be filled during this week (17 counted in total according to a post on Facebook). So with RHTT season out of the way, it looks like traffic is finally about to begin.

Realtime Trains | 4Z29 2052 Blackford to Motherwell Tmd (Drs) | 29/11/2022

Real-time train running information for 4Z29 2052 departure from Blackford to Motherwell Tmd (Drs) on 29/11/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[AVK17]

To end the doom and gloom on here, DRS ran up to Blackford tonight, presumably dropping off empty containers ready to be filled during this week (17 counted in total according to a post on Facebook). So with RHTT season out of the way, it looks like traffic is finally about to begin.

Realtime Trains | 4Z29 2052 Blackford to Motherwell Tmd (Drs) | 29/11/2022

Real-time train running information for 4Z29 2052 departure from Blackford to Motherwell Tmd (Drs) on 29/11/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

No, it was a light engine which removed the two wagons that had been dumped there since the opening ceremony. There are no wagons in the terminal now.

 

[fgwrich]

First operational service began today:

From Mossend to Blackford

Realtime Trains | 4Z50 0907 Mossend Down Yard to Blackford Freight Terminal | 04/12/2022

Real-time train running information for 4Z50 0907 departure from Mossend Down Yard to Blackford Freight Terminal on 04/12/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Blackford to Mossend

Realtime Trains | 4Z51 1246 Blackford Freight Terminal to Mossend Down Yard | 04/12/2022

Real-time train running information for 4Z51 1246 departure from Blackford Freight Terminal to Mossend Down Yard on 04/12/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[evotista]

Orginal piece from The Scotsman in 2019 said ....

"Luddon Construction will soon begin construction of the new freight facility, the first in Scotland for more than 10 years. Construction is expected to take 12-14 months with the facility being operational in early 2021. Highland Spring Group highlighted that excellent collaborative working relationships have been key to the progress and success of the project to date."

Great news that it's finally operational ... such a shame that it still takes over 3 plus years to get it there.

 

[najaB]

Great news that it's finally operational ... such a shame that it still takes over 3 plus years to get it there.

Of course, it's not like anything happened in 2020 that might have slowed progress...

 

[InOban]

Exactly. The delays were entirely down to Highland Spring, whose business was severely impacted by you know what. The NR infrastructure was completed very quickly.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Worth mentioning perhaps that in my days in the 1980s at Speedlink Distribution (Edible Products) we had occasional vanloads of mineral-water from the pre-existing siding at Blackford. I think it was serviced by the Dundee-Perth-Mossend trip.

 

[InOban]

https://twitter.com/Highland_Spring/status/1599709708956315649?t=rhJ4O_BszEoVVK5mEPk96Q&s=19

Highland Spring have tweeted a picture of the first train. Heading for their distribution centre at Daventry.

 

[CEN60]

https://twitter.com/Highland_Spring/status/1599709708956315649?t=rhJ4O_BszEoVVK5mEPk96Q&s=19

Highland Spring have tweeted a picture of the first train. Heading for their distribution centre at Daventry.

A couple of the wagons going in and leaving. Sorry I don't know who took the photos - were sent to me in an email at low resolution.

 

[Wynd]

Photos look similar to ones on FB from Alex Napier, I stand to be corrected, however.

Great news that this is up and running. Yes, it's taken time, but it's there now and I hope it goes from strength to strength.

 

[CEN60]

Photos look similar to ones on FB from Alex Napier, I stand to be corrected, however.

Great news that this is up and running. Yes, it's taken time, but it's there now and I hope it goes from strength to strength.

If they are - credit to the photographer.

Now people need to get their finger out and crack on with its potential twin at Dalcross - hopefully

 

[mcmad]

If they are - credit to the photographer.

Now people need to get their finger out and crack on with its potential twin at Dalcross - hopefully

Dalcross is a very similar situation to Blackford in that the Network Rail side of things has been done (as part of the Inverness Airport works) and the path is agreed, just need the sidings built hopefully in less than the eternity Blackford took.