Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[JKF]

As a regular user of Bristol Temple Meads at the time that train used to often end up departing on the Up Through, my ears are relieved! Although it'd be interesting to know how Port Talbot is getting it's steel.

Smaller ships (although still quite big) can dock at Newport, and trains appear to be still running from there. Locks at Portbury and Newport can accommodate boats with widths of up to 41 m & 30 m respectively. They did open some sort of steel stocking area at Portbury not so long ago so I suspect they’ll be keen to keep using that asset.

 

[Class15]

4M94 Felixstowe to Lawley Street is running today, for the first time since the Maersk switch:

Realtime Trains | 4M94 0750 Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Lawley Street F.L.T. | 16/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 4M94 0750 departure from Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Lawley Street F.L.T. on 16/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

4M43 Felixstowe to Lawley Street (in the old 4M42 Garston or Ditton path) seems to be an STP for tomorrow:

Realtime Trains | 4M43 2151 Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Lawley Street F.L.T. | 17/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 4M43 2151 departure from Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Lawley Street F.L.T. on 17/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Switch-up of the paths or services returning to Felixstowe?

(Also, 4M43 is pathed as electric Ipswich to Wembley, but I’m 99% sure this won’t actually happen).

 

[JKF]

A lot of the previous Portbury steel had been from India rather than China but also was wondering why the gap between workings had been so big...

There’s now an STP working in for next Monday, GBRF from Margam to the docks, so that might hint at services resuming next week. When up and running the Monday service usually starts with a light engine move from East Depot, with the stock of Saturday’s train staying at the dock over the weekend.

 

[Numbskull100]

4M94 Felixstowe to Lawley Street is running today, for the first time since the Maersk switch:

Realtime Trains | 4M94 0750 Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Lawley Street F.L.T. | 16/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 4M94 0750 departure from Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Lawley Street F.L.T. on 16/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

4M43 Felixstowe to Lawley Street (in the old 4M42 Garston or Ditton path) seems to be an STP for tomorrow:

Realtime Trains | 4M43 2151 Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Lawley Street F.L.T. | 17/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 4M43 2151 departure from Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Lawley Street F.L.T. on 17/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Switch-up of the paths or services returning to Felixstowe?

(Also, 4M43 is pathed as electric Ipswich to Wembley, but I’m 99% sure this won’t actually happen).

4am94 - It's an additional, well loaded, other Birmingham's still running.

Delayed due to the cock up at Wembley.

 

[zwk500]

Delayed due to the cock up at Wembley.

What happened?

 

[Numbskull100]

What happened?

4L17 and 4M20 blocking eachother in at High Level since 0900 ish

 

[zwk500]

4L17 and 4M20 blocking eachother in at High Level since 0900 ish

That's not too long after the Bletchley mexican standoff as well. Appears to have only just been resolved by dragging 4L17 back towards Sudbury Jn from Signal Maps.

 

[Class15]

4am94 - It's an additional, well loaded, other Birmingham's still running.

Delayed due to the cock up at Wembley.

Many thanks as always!

I wonder whether the obvious increase in Felixstowe - Birmingham demand (1 train per day to 2.5 per day because of the Daventry working) is replicated elsewhere, for example in the North-West and North-East?

It’s certainly good progress!

 

[Numbskull100]

Many thanks as always!

I wonder whether the obvious increase in Felixstowe - Birmingham demand (1 train per day to 2.5 per day because of the Daventry working) is replicated elsewhere, for example in the North-West and North-East?

It’s certainly good progress!

It's a one off by the look of it. But good to see all the same.

 

[hwl]

Many thanks as always!

I wonder whether the obvious increase in Felixstowe - Birmingham demand (1 train per day to 2.5 per day because of the Daventry working) is replicated elsewhere, for example in the North-West and North-East?

It’s certainly good progress!

It's a one off by the look of it. But good to see all the same.

We are well into the period of stocking up the midlands distribution centres with goods before Christmas when there were traditionally more intermodal services from the ports (and lots of all empty containers going back to the ports) than at other time of year.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Are these new wagons to the Humberside/Tinsley flow? Six BAAs looking freshly-painted ahead maybe 20 of the usual cassette wagons. On today's 6J04 0625 Hedon Road Sidings to Tinsley.

 

[geordieblue]

Are these new wagons to the Humberside/Tinsley flow? Six BAAs looking freshly-painted ahead maybe 20 of the usual cassette wagons. On today's 6J04 0625 Hedon Road Sidings to Tinsley.

Yes, according to this Flickr post currently being trialled: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcus_45111/54807881519/in/dateposted/

 

[eastwestdivide]

Yes, according to this Flickr post currently being trialled: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcus_45111/54807881519/in/dateposted/

Ah, recent refurbs, thanks.

 

[ExRes]

Just wondering if anyone knows the situation with the DCR Middleton Towers to Ravenhead Sidings 6M89 Saturday sand flow as I don't believe it's run since 27th September, sufficient stocks at Ravenhead perhaps or has the contract ended? Thanks

 

[Intercity_225]

Just wondering if anyone knows the situation with the DCR Middleton Towers to Ravenhead Sidings 6M89 Saturday sand flow as I don't believe it's run since 27th September, sufficient stocks at Ravenhead perhaps or has the contract ended? Thanks

Engineering works every weekend between Peterborough and Ely throughout October.

 

[Class15]

Engineering works every weekend between Peterborough and Ely throughout October.

Is there no alternative route it can take? Ely - Cambridge - ECML - York Way - Primrose Hill - WCML for example? Very long but surely better than cancelling the train altogether?

 

[ExRes]

Engineering works every weekend between Peterborough and Ely throughout October.

Thanks @Intercity_225 I didn't think about that option

 

[zwk500]

Is there no alternative route it can take? Ely - Cambridge - ECML - York Way - Primrose Hill - WCML for example? Very long but surely better than cancelling the train altogether?

If the train is loaded would it exceed the load limit for the North London Incline?

 

[Class15]

If the train is loaded would it exceed the load limit for the North London Incline?

Fair point - hadn’t thought of that. Ely - Cambridge - Harlow - High Meads Jn - North London line - Primrose Hill - WCML in that case.

 

[zwk500]

Fair point - hadn’t thought of that. Ely - Cambridge - Harlow - High Meads Jn - North London line - Primrose Hill - WCML in that case.

If you could find a path... Although at that point tbh just arranging for the runround at a suitable point on the ECML might be easier.

 

[Class15]

If you could find a path...

There are Class 6 freight paths along the WAML on weekdays. I can’t see arranging one on a Saturday being very difficult.

Although at that point tbh just arranging for the runround at a suitable point on the ECML might be easier.

I doubt it personally. Operators always prefer avoiding reversals.

Also - where would a suitable place be? Ferme Park doesn’t have access coming from the north.

 

[dmncf]

If the train is loaded would it exceed the load limit for the North London Incline?

Interesting! I knew that structures (e.g. bridges) might have a load limit, but I didn't realise that inclines might have a load limit.

 

[littledude]

Interesting! I knew that structures (e.g. bridges) might have a load limit, but I didn't realise that inclines might have a load limit.

The incline itself doesn’t, but the loco chugging away climbing up the incline definitely does!

 

[Pinus contorta]

Interesting! I knew that structures (e.g. bridges) might have a load limit, but I didn't realise that inclines might have a load limit.

The line out of Manchester Victoria is one example i believe.

 

[zwk500]

Interesting! I knew that structures (e.g. bridges) might have a load limit, but I didn't realise that inclines might have a load limit.

I believe every section of track has an assessed maximum trailing load for each class (and sometimes subclass) of loco. Obviously on relatively gentle or downhill track this limit is pretty high so it's only really on steep inclines it comes into play. But e.g. a Class 66 will have a greater maximum trailing load than a Class 37 on any given bank (I'm sure there's an exception or two somewhere).

On something very steep, 'clean runs' may also need to be taken into account.

The freight loads book used to be a very unwieldy giant spreadsheet. I think it's since been converted into a more accessible application but haven't seen the updated version in person yet.

 

[richa2002]

There are Class 6 freight paths along the WAML on weekdays. I can’t see arranging one on a Saturday being very difficult.

I doubt it personally. Operators always prefer avoiding reversals.

Also - where would a suitable place be? Ferme Park doesn’t have access coming from the north.

The yard at Welwyn Garden City is often used for run rounds.

 

[Mattderby]

Hi All, I live next the railway in Leeds, often watching the trains roll into the station. The aggs trains to and from Hunslet Tilcon are always GBRF today I noticed a new flow (6M22) from Hunslet to Tunstead. Are Freightliner taking over the GBRF stone trains here?

 

[Adrian Barr]

This was an interesting snippet of news from the Rail Freight Group at the beginning of October, about a new aggregates depot in Rugby:

Tarmac has officially opened a new aggregates depot in Rugby, transforming a previously disused siding into a fully operational rail freight site. Materials will now be brought in by rail before local distribution by road, creating a more resilient and sustainable supply chain. The depot strengthens regional supply for housebuilding, commercial and infrastructure projects, while reducing the need for long-distance road haulage. It also supports Tarmac’s wider strategy to increase use of rail in logistics operations, cutting carbon and congestion. Network Rail worked closely with Tarmac to deliver the project, highlighting the importance of returning disused freight sites to service.

It's located in Rugby Up Sidings, on the site of the former "virtual quarry" north of the station, that was used during the West Coast Route Modernisation project.

A couple of pictures of the new terminal here (with similar information from the same press release): https://railmarket.com/news/freight-rail/40473-tarmac-opens-a-new-rail-aggregates-depot-in-rugby

Google maps imagery (prior to the terminal opening) shows three dead-end sidings in the yard - along with a much shorter siding closer to the station - next to the two freight loops north of the station. It appears that the siding furthest from the main line may have been removed to give more room for the terminal itself.

This shot of the same location (prior to remodelling and removal of some sidings) must date from late 90s / 2000 ish, with an assortment of long-gone 2-axle wagon types, a pair of 37s, and a passing Silverlink 321 unit:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/58806173@N08/5762877476/ (Photo: Trev "Big T" Hurley)

This 1999 view shows 60027 with a bulk ballast delivery from Stud Farm being unloaded:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/194923731@N02/51877142413/ (Photo: Paul Davis)

This is a birds eye view of the sidings in 2003... taken in the days before drones when this sort of view involved climbing a lighting tower!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jon_harper/3531235595/ (Photo: Jon Harper)

2005 view, with modern bogie wagons and a 66. The 92 is probably stabled here prior to working an intermodal service from Daventry to Scotland*, due to limited room for stabling electric locos at Daventry:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7368063@N06/51964913899/ (Photo: Saxon Sky)
*As an example, this is 92028 with Safeway containers on a 4S62 12:12 Daventry - Mossend in 2005: https://www.flickr.com/photos/markegdell/40236059612/ (Photo: Mark Egdell)

Rugby yard itself also saw brief use for loading intermodal trains. It's hard to find pictures, but this photo from Geograph shows reach stackers, Tesco swapbodies and an 08 shunter in EWS livery at Rugby in 2010:
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1932927 (Photo: Stephen McKay)
DIRFT II (with the new Tesco terminal) didn't open until 2011, so I think this was a temporary solution to provide additional terminal capacity for a service to Mossend, after DB Schenker had won the Stobart Rail contract from DRS in 2009.

Back to the future, and GBRF 66301 works the new Tunstead - Rugby service past Chinley on 25/09/25:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shawfordjunction/54868469542/ (Photo: Mark Bugler)

 

[AndrewE]

2005 view, with modern bogie wagons and a 66. The 92 is probably stabled here prior to working an intermodal service from Daventry to Scotland*, due to limited room for stabling electric locos at Daventry:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7368063@N06/51964913899/ (Photo: Saxon Sky)

and maybe Rugby is a lot easier for drivers to ride in Passenger and take a light loco to Daventry, than to get there by road/taxi - although the light engine path might cost a lot more!

 

[geordieblue]

There are paths in for Carlisle-Inverness next week and return - intriguingly the return appears to continue on to East Midlands Gateway. More MoD traffic or something different?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R17595/2025-10-29/detailed

Edit - having checked further it appears the service then continues from East Mids to Doncaster, to Tees Dock, back to Doncaster and finally to Kineton - will be a busy week for whatever loco is on that diagram!