Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[Class15]

The FL work was Maersk, so moved to Gateway as 4L58/4M58

But only once a day, previously twice from Felixstowe. Not all the containers were Maersk. I heard 4M88/4L54 was coming back in July but obviously rumours so take with more than one pinch of salt.

 

[Numbskull100]

But only once a day, previously twice from Felixstowe. Not all the containers were Maersk. I heard 4M88/4L54 was coming back in July but obviously rumours so take with more than one pinch of salt.

Maersk ship any box, not just a grey one with Maersk on the side.

4M88 is not back, 4L54 is BUT is a Doncaster - Felixstowe service.

 

[Class15]

Maersk ship any box, not just a grey one with Maersk on the side.

4M88 is not back, 4L54 is BUT is a Doncaster - Felixstowe service.

Thank you! I’m really hoping that 4M88 will make a return at one point… 90s over the GOBLIN was pretty cool…

While we’re at it, are any other of the unused freight paths at Felixstowe likely to return in July?

 

[Numbskull100]

Thank you! I’m really hoping that 4M88 will make a return at one point… 90s over the GOBLIN was pretty cool…

While we’re at it, are any other of the unused freight paths at Felixstowe likely to return in July?

Not sure, will find out if I can.

 

[Class15]

Not sure, will find out if I can.

That’s fine. Thanks very much!

 

[furnessvale]

Does anyone know if these are the old bitumen tanks that were used on the Preston - Teeside flow and have been rebranded?

No. The depressed centre indicates they are the type of powder tanks used for cement.

I have no idea if they are new build or repurposed from cement work.

 

[geordieblue]

The cement tanks are repurposed from one of the Oxwellmains flows, they were moved to MoD Eastriggs in about November if I remember right.

 

[BorderCollie]

Another Grimsby aggregates run today. Return to Doncaster here - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R02277/2025-06-26/detailed

 

[Adrian Barr]

There is a working from Baglan Bay to Shrewsbury this week - timber flow restarting or wagons for storage/use elsewhere?

Looks like 6Z40 on Monday night was a movement of 4 empty timber wagons which had been in the sidings at Baglan Bay for some time (TOPS shows a couple of red carded "not to go" wagons still at Baglan, so the sidings might not be completely cleared out yet).

Shrewsbury Coton Hill appears to have become a bit of a mini stabling / maintenance location for the timber fleet, with over a dozen wagons shown there on TOPS. For example when 6C56 Aberystwyth to Chirk ran on 6th June, the empties ran back to Coton Hill as a 6C57.

This photo shows 56051 at Coton Hill with timber wagons in December: https://www.flickr.com/photos/d1021/54206764975/ (Photo: Mike Hemming)
This 1986 view of Coton Hill makes for an interesting comparison... https://www.flickr.com/photos/lickeybanker/22877785545/ (Photo: Don Gatehouse)

There's a schedule for a 6Z38 22:22 Coton Hill - Chirk tonight (returning light engine to Coleham as 0Z37) so some of the wagons at Coton Hill might be being re-positioned to go back into traffic.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:91125/2025-06-26/detailed

Another Grimsby aggregates run today.

These GBRF workings from Doncaster Down Decoy to Grimsby have been conveying stone from Rylstone, using an MJA set which had been in use on the Hull - Oxwellmains gypsum flow.

6D63 08:00 Doncaster - Rylstone and 6D99 15:31 return workings ran on 17th and 25th June.
The loaded wagons formed 6Z66 06:47 Doncaster - Grimsby and 6Z67 15:50 empties back to Doncaster on 18th June and again today.

There's a photo showing the offloading of the initial Freightliner working on 9th June with stone from Dowlow: https://www.flickr.com/photos/75464378@N04/54578615906/ (Photo: Gareth GAEP2012)
The building in the background has a sign saying COPES, a local ready-mix concrete supplier. Their yard is conveniently next to the railway line just east of Pyewipe Road signal box (the name of which is a bit confusing as the level crossing next to it is on Gilbey Road). https://www.copesreadymix.co.uk/

See also this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/grimsby-district-light-railway-re-activation.287888/

The Freightliner working used a set of wagons from the Shap - Walsall flow, which has run again today as 6Z20 Basford Hall - Walsall (wagons off yesterday's 6Z26 Shap - Basford Hall). The same set was also used for one of the occasional workings from Llandudno Jn to Ashburys in May (6K14 Llandudno Jn - Basford Hall on 16th May and 6Z14 Basford Hall - Ashburys on 17th May).

first train into the newly reconnected Horton Quarry today. (17th June)

Good to hear!

I see GBRF posted this on their news page yesterday: https://www.gbrailfreight.com/gb-ra...eopen-horton-quarry-rail-link-after-60-years/

I think there have been 3 workings from Horton so far, with 6C78 05:31 Tuebrook - Horton and 6F79 15:10 Horton - Tuebrook running on 17th, 19th and 24th June (via Hellifield and Blackburn).

Nice shot of the loading facilities at Horton, with 60087 loading the wagons for 6F79 last week: https://www.flickr.com/photos/philmetcalfe/54607011585/ (Photo: Phil Metcalfe)

The stone has been offloaded at Ashton-in-Makerfield, I think the train gets split into two portions at Tuebrook which form 6F67 / 6F63 return and 6F64 / 6F65 return the following day.

Today's 6C78 / 6F69 working has run to Ribblehead instead of Horton, so perhaps these services will serve either Horton or Ribblehead as required, depending on the source of the material.

The GBRF Portbury steel trains have had a bit of a hiatus while the Severn Tunnel has been out of use

Next boatload of steel is not due into Portbury until mid July, I'm told

On the topic of the Tata slab trains, it's interesting to see some slab services have been running from Scunthorpe, with an afternoon 6V66 Scunthorpe - Margam running on 16th, 18th, 23rd and 25th June, with the empties working from Margam on the previous day as a 6Z37 late afternoon departure.

Using a uniform rake of refurbished BAA wagons, 6V66 looks rather smart here on 23rd June: https://www.flickr.com/photos/181919693@N06/54609095771/ (Photo: John Catterson)

Although Scunthorpe and Port Talbot steelworks are now owned by different companies, on the Tata YouTube channel they did mention that some steel would be bought on the open market in addition to the volumes coming from Tata plants at Ijmuiden (Netherlands) and from India.

It will be interesting to see if the Scunthorpe traffic continues, or if it's some sort of temporary arrangement related to the situation a few weeks back when Tata helped out British Steel by supplying raw materials (probably shipped across from Ijmuiden) to avoid the blast furnaces shutting down due to lack of coke / ore. It's possible that Scunthorpe agreed to supply a certain amount of slab in return for the raw materials.

 

[j37401]

There is a trial to move steel coils from Seaforth dock to Wolverhampton ST run by DB. It is supposed to loaded onto a set of 20 BYA covered steel carriers. The paths were put in to run today but it's now not due to start for two weeks.

Realtime Trains | 6M10 1005 Wolverhampton Steel Term to Seaforth C.T. Mdhc (Ews) | 26/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 6M10 1005 departure from Wolverhampton Steel Term to Seaforth C.T. Mdhc (Ews) on 26/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 6M20 0107 Seaforth C.T. Mdhc (Ews) to Wolverhampton Steel Term | 27/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 6M20 0107 departure from Seaforth C.T. Mdhc (Ews) to Wolverhampton Steel Term on 27/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[66701GBRF]

Hi all, does anyone know why container traffic to Ditton seems to have dropped off a cliff recently?

Previously, it was this:

FL 2 a day to Felixstowe, GBRf 2 a day to Felixstowe

Now, it is this:

FL 1 a day to London Gateway, GBRf 1 a day to Felixstowe

Quite a big drop - anyone know why?

Just for info the 4L62/4M61 Ditton service ceases after tomorrow. The train reverts to 4L18/4M18 Trafford Park service from next week.

 

[Class15]

Just for info the 4L62/4M61 Ditton service ceases after tomorrow. The train reverts to 4L18/4M18 Trafford Park service from next week.

That’s interesting and a shame in some ways but on the other hand at least it means that the 19:43 (at Camden Road) path will be used regularly again, which is a positive.

Will the 4L22/4M22 service cease in that case?

 

[66701GBRF]

That’s interesting and a shame in some ways but on the other hand at least it means that the 19:43 (at Camden Road) path will be used regularly again, which is a positive.

Will the 4L22/4M22 service cease in that case?

No, that’s a regular well loaded service so will remain for the foreseeable.

edit: I believe the 4L18 path is via Ely. 4M18 via London

 

[Class15]

No, that’s a regular well loaded service so will remain for the foreseeable.

Fair enough, an extra Trafford train then! Good news!

 

[j37401]

Just for info the 4L62/4M61 Ditton service ceases after tomorrow. The train reverts to 4L18/4M18 Trafford Park service from next week.

I heard this change may be only for 1 week? Is it permanently changing to Trafford Park?

 

[Class15]

Couple of Freightliner changes out of Felixstowe judging by the situation today:

4M81 Felixstowe - Trafford no longer running - I suspect the Trafford diagram is switching to 4L67/4M53 but don’t know for sure
4M93 Felixstowe - Lawley St running again today - this working had previously finished in March - not sure what the return from Lawley St will now be

 

[Numbskull100]

Couple of Freightliner changes out of Felixstowe judging by the situation today:

4M81 Felixstowe - Trafford no longer running - I suspect the Trafford diagram is switching to 4L67/4M53 but don’t know for sure
4M93 Felixstowe - Lawley St running again today - this working had previously finished in March - not sure what the return from Lawley St will now be

The return for 4M93 is 4L69

4L67 / 4M53 are Indeed a Manchester diagram from today.

 

[Class15]

The return for 4m93 is 4L69

4L67 / 4M53 are Indeed a Manchester diagram from today.

Great news (I prefer those diagrams haha)! And are 4L67/4M53 likely to use a pair of 90s?

 

[JKF]

There’s paths in for Tues-Fri this week for a DB steel train into Portbury, 6Z55 & 6Z53 return.

Realtime Trains | 6Z55 0521 Margam T.C. to Portbury Automotive Terml | 01/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 6Z55 0521 departure from Margam T.C. to Portbury Automotive Terml on 01/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Curious why that’s running and not GBRF, although in the past they’ve both run trains on the same day so possible GBRF will activate their trains too.

I believe there is a steel stocking warehouse at Portbury now so the flow might not be dependent on sailings into the port.

 

[Numbskull100]

Great news (I prefer those diagrams haha)! And are 4L67/4M53 likely to use a pair of 90s?

Yes, booked 90s

 

[Adrian Barr]

Freightliner at Dowlow

Freightliner took over the Dowlow aggregate services from DB at the weekend. As DB Cargo were using their own MMA box wagons (and HRA hoppers for occasional Ely services) it means the wagon types in use will change along with the loco haulage. Movements so far:

On Sat 28/06 there was a 6H20 03:52 Tunstead - Dowlow, which brought in a set of 24 HIA hoppers to be loaded for 6D48 08:41 to Barrow Hill.
These then formed today's 6L26 03:30 Barrow Hill - Ely with 66622, returning as 6Z27 to Tunstead.

There was also a 4M68 10:45 Barrow Hill - Dowlow on Saturday. 70004 brought in 31 (out of a total of 35) new JNA-Z box wagons that have been built at Shirebrook. These had been in temporary storage at Barrow Hill since last year, and their use on the Dowlow contract explains a couple of mystery movements from Shirebrook last year. More details on these wagons in this post on the wagon fleet news and discussion thread:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/wagon-fleet-news-and-discussion.278615/page-3#post-7354237

These JNA-Z wagons left Shirebrook in unbranded blue livery (I think they are owned by VTG which has blue corporate colours) and it will be interesting to see if they have received (or will receive) new branding.

22 of these new wagons then formed today's 6M09 01:45 Dowlow - Walsall with 70004, returning as 4M82 12:08 Walsall - Dowlow.

This morning's 6Z70 04:00 Crewe Basford Hall - Dowlow brought in a mixed set of 24 JNA-T and MWA box wagons with 66566 and 70020. I think this was top & tailed as it ran via Stockport, Denton, Guide Bridge yard (reverse), Stockport, Hazel Grove and Furness Vale. The majority of the JNAs in this set had been working the Shap to Walsall flow (with Shap Summit, like Dowlow, being a Breedon quarry). The JNAs in this set are owned by Ermewa but many have GBRF branding as they were previously in the pool used on GBRF aggregates (from Hindlow for example, which is adjacent to their new base of Dowlow, both locations accessed via Briggs Sidings). Most of the MWAs added to this set at Crewe have been put back into traffic after receiving maintenance at Hunslet, with many of them having been out of traffic for three months or so.

This 24-set ex 6Z70 then formed 6H52 10:00 Dowlow - Ashburys with 70020 and 66566 again, via Chinley, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Denton, Guide Bridge (reverse). The locos are returning on 6H53 (via Furness Vale on the usual route for this train) with 16 wagons - 8 left at Ashburys, which sometimes happens if they don't all get offloaded in time.

There was also a 6H22 11:16 Earles Sidings - Dowlow with 66601 and 12 empty box wagons. 4 of these were from the new build of JNA-Z wagons already mentioned. These had reached Earles on a 6Z96 from Shirebrook on Friday, along with 4 brand new MWA conversions (which were also on 6H22 along with 4 other regular JNA-T box wagons). As discussed in the wagon thread, I think these 4 MWAs are the first to emerge from Shirebrook in the latest conversion programme, with components re-used from HHA coal hoppers. These 12 wagons ex 6H22 were then added to 4 of the wagons which had reached Shirebrook on Saturday's 4M68, to form this evening's 6L92 20:09 to Eccles Road (Snetterton, Norfolk) with 66601.

 

[j37401]

Freightliner at Dowlow

This 24-set ex 6Z70 then formed 6H52 10:00 Dowlow - Ashburys with 70020 and 66566 again, via Chinley, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Denton, Guide Bridge (reverse). The locos are returning on 6H53 (via Furness Vale on the usual route for this train) with 16 wagons - 8 left at Ashburys, which sometimes happens if they don't all get offloaded in time.

I’m surprised 8 were left at Ashburys, especially as the train had an extra hour at the terminal than the DB train did looking at the paths. Although they are running 24 wagons instead of the usual 20 when DB had it. Perhaps first day teething troubles with new crane and operator etc?
Does anybody know why an extra loco was added for the empties going back to Dowlow?

 

[billh]

I’m surprised 8 were left at Ashburys, especially as the train had an extra hour at the terminal than the DB train did looking at the paths. Although they are running 24 wagons instead of the usual 20 when DB had it. Perhaps first day teething troubles with new crane and operator etc?
Does anybody know why an extra loco was added for the empties going back to Dowlow?

The train has been T & T for a few weeks now, loaded and empty. the incoming route was changed because of more landslip problems near New Mills and as I understand it, there is no run round facility at Ashburys , even though the track layout seems to permit this? The train therefore requires a loco at each end and presumably, a big extra cost for Networkrail? I'll be looking out for today's trains and report back what I see.

 

[j37401]

The train has been T & T for a few weeks now, loaded and empty. the incoming route was changed because of more landslip problems near New Mills and as I understand it, there is no run round facility at Ashburys , even though the track layout seems to permit this? The train therefore requires a loco at each end and presumably, a big extra cost for Networkrail? I'll be looking out for today's trains and report back what I see.

Im aware of that. The DB train was tnt because it was arriving via Philips park and there is no loco release at Ashburys. The Freightliner train ran round at Guide Bridge and arrived via Gorton , back the train in. This is why i was raising the question as to why they sent another loco to top the train to Dowlow.

 

[Adrian Barr]

Does anybody know why an extra loco was added for the empties going back to Dowlow?

Slight error with my original post. According to TOPS, 66566 was detached at Guide Bridge on 6Z70, then re-attached to 6H52 at Guide Bridge. It's then shown running back light engine to Guide Bridge (no schedule), then back to Ashburys as a 0T66, before ending up at Dowlow on last night's 6H53. If TOPS is correct, 66566 has been left at Dowlow (with 70020 working today's 6H52 solo) so it might have been added to 6H53 as a positioning move (or due to some unknown issue). Not sure if that makes it more confusing or less confusing...

With Guide Bridge being a Freightliner location, it's now a convenient place to run round 6H52 and avoid the need to top & tail, which might be the regular operation going forward.

6H53 consisted with 70020 solo tonight (1st July)

---------------------
Added Wed 02 July:

66566 hitched a lift to Doncaster on last night's 6L90 20:09 Dowlow - Norwich Riverside, then ran light engine to Midland Road as 0F66, so it looks like it was a positioning move on Monday's 6H53. Train loco for 6L90 was 66601, which had returned to Dowlow on the 6M88 empties from Eccles Road yesterday. 66601 now en route back to Dowlow on 6M20 12:12 from Norwich.

6M88 is seen here passing March - note the 4 new blue JNA-Z wagons on the front. The grey wagons behind must be the 4 new MWA conversions.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tibshelf/54627093770/ (Keith Partlow)

The stone terminal at Eccles Road (Snetterton) is operated by Rory J Holbrook Ltd, who also operate the railhead at Brandon.
https://roryjholbrook.co.uk/locations

The stone terminal at Norwich Riverside (by the station) is apparently operated by Monk Plant Hire, a local Norfolk business. I tried looking on Google maps a while back and couldn't figure out who operated it. The other local aggregate terminal at Trowse serves a Tarmac Asphalt plant.

Our Norwich Riverside Railyard enables us to import and export aggregate nationwide via rail, further minimizing our carbon footprint.
https://mphgroup.co.uk/wash-plant/

70004 worked 6H38 02:15 Dowlow - Ashburys and 6H40 12:28 return yesterday, plus 6H52 / 6H53 today (solo as far as I know, running round at Guide Bridge on the way in to access Ashburys from the east).

Meanwhile 70020 worked today's 6M09 01:14 Dowlow - Walsall and 6M82 return.

News article from Freightliner about the Breedon contract: https://www.freightliner.co.uk/news...t-and-aggregate-contracts-with-breedon-group/

 

[JKF]

6Z55/53 Margam-Portbury steel did run today, in the hands of 66654. Had 25 wagons, more than the typical 19-21, but not a full load, a few at the front had two slabs, the remainder appeared to just have one.

 

[BRX]

An unexpected working; apparently it's a container train - does anyone know what this is, from Southampton to Dollands Moor?

Realtime Trains | 4Z60 0927 Southampton M.C.T. Ews to Dollands Moor Sdgs | 04/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 4Z60 0927 departure from Southampton M.C.T. Ews to Dollands Moor Sdgs on 04/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Class15]

An unexpected working; apparently it's a container train - does anyone know what this is, from Southampton to Dollands Moor?

Realtime Trains | 4Z60 0927 Southampton M.C.T. Ews to Dollands Moor Sdgs | 04/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 4Z60 0927 departure from Southampton M.C.T. Ews to Dollands Moor Sdgs on 04/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Mentioned in SE-gen - DB 66 with full container train. Don’t know exactly but it looks like a new flow.

 

[BRX]

Mentioned in SE-gen - DB 66 with full container train. Don’t know exactly but it looks like a new flow.

It seems a bit unlikely as a new flow. I note it's timed as 33mph max.

 

[Class15]

It seems a bit unlikely as a new flow. I note it's timed as 33mph max.

That’s an RTT issue, it’s 75mph.