Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[ExRes]

DCR increasing the loads into Eccles Road Johnstons Sidings, yesterdays 6L82 proved the load can be increased from 21 to 22 wagons up from the 16 that were previously operated, comment from David Fletcher "But could we do more? Probably!" DCR currently running three of these trains a week from Peak Forest for Cemex

 

[furnessvale]

DCR increasing the loads into Eccles Road Johnstons Sidings, yesterdays 6L82 proved the load can be increased from 21 to 22 wagons up from the 16 that were previously operated, comment from David Fletcher "But could we do more? Probably!" DCR currently running three of these trains a week from Peak Forest for Cemex

22 x 102t wagons seems to be a fairly standard number out of Peak Forest these days.

Before anyone jumps down my throat, yes there are exceptions.

 

[ExRes]

22 x 102t wagons seems to be a fairly standard number out of Peak Forest these days.

Indeed, the space problem was at the Eccles road end though

 

[geordieblue]

Bad news for international freight - sounds like Eurotunnel are cancelling planned investment including reopening of Ripple Lane: https://www.ft.com/content/c4d6ccf4-7915-4500-8953-a8709d93ebde

 

[BRX]

Bad news for international freight - sounds like Eurotunnel are cancelling planned investment including reopening of Ripple Lane: https://www.ft.com/content/c4d6ccf4-7915-4500-8953-a8709d93ebde

The article mentions a service from Lille to Barking, which seems to be something carrying truck trailers, so a kind of extended version of the Shuttle trains. They have been talking about versions of this for a little while... at one point there was talk of repurposing some of Dollands Moor as a lorry unloading point.

None of these schemes sound particularly positive for international rail freight - they are still dumping lots of lorry traffic onto the roads either side of the channel. If anything they undermine the market for proper rail freight that would take things by rail for much more of their full journey.

There has been no recent mention of the combi service from Paris to Daventry, that was supposed to be starting at some point this year (has it been abandoned?). That's the sort of project that deserves investment, not extended Euroshuttle things.

 

[AndrewE]

The article mentions a service from Lille to Barking, which seems to be something carrying truck trailers, so a kind of extended version of the Shuttle trains. They have been talking about versions of this for a little while... at one point there was talk of repurposing some of Dollands Moor as a lorry unloading point.

None of these schemes sound particularly positive for international rail freight - they are still dumping lots of lorry traffic onto the roads either side of the channel. If anything they undermine the market for proper rail freight that would take things by rail for much more of their full journey.

There has been no recent mention of the combi service from Paris to Daventry, that was supposed to be starting at some point this year (has it been abandoned?). That's the sort of project that deserves investment, not extended Euroshuttle things.

But how much of this is kite-flying ahead of the budget?

 

[BRX]

But how much of this is kite-flying ahead of the budget?

Quite a lot I imagine!

 

[geordieblue]

The article mentions a service from Lille to Barking, which seems to be something carrying truck trailers, so a kind of extended version of the Shuttle trains. They have been talking about versions of this for a little while... at one point there was talk of repurposing some of Dollands Moor as a lorry unloading point.

None of these schemes sound particularly positive for international rail freight - they are still dumping lots of lorry traffic onto the roads either side of the channel. If anything they undermine the market for proper rail freight that would take things by rail for much more of their full journey.

There has been no recent mention of the combi service from Paris to Daventry, that was supposed to be starting at some point this year (has it been abandoned?). That's the sort of project that deserves investment, not extended Euroshuttle things.

I get your point - but also anything extra through the Chunnel is good news IMO bearing in mind where we’re starting from. Hopefully we could have a reactivated Ripple Lane and also the Paris-Daventry (as you note, things have gone quiet on this front too)…

 

[Penmorfa]

The last three weeks have seen a Wembley - Penmaenmawr - Wembley weekend working. All hauled by DC Rail class 60 locos and 24 blue Cappagh wagons. I have been told it was ballast for HS2 but looking at the wagons contents it looks more like hardcore.

 

[Fedupnorthern]

I'm interested in railfreight in the North West.

Freightliner indicate that there are up to "20 services a day" using their Old Trafford Manchester terminal. Recent reports suggest that at least one of these is to Tilbury. I also understand there are liner services to Southampton and Felixtowe. Assuming 2 trains per hour per direction for each of these, this equals around 12 services. Together with additional services to and from Crewe (remarshalled from through WCML services, or stored rolling stock?) this would seem to summarise the operations pattern.

Am I missing or misinterpreting anything with these assumptions?

 

[atillathehunn]

I'm interested in railfreight in the North West.

Freightliner indicate that there are up to "20 services a day" using their Old Trafford Manchester terminal. Recent reports suggest that at least one of these is to Tilbury. I also understand there are liner services to Southampton and Felixtowe. Assuming 2 trains per hour per direction for each of these, this equals around 12 services. Together with additional services to and from Crewe (remarshalled from through WCML services, or stored rolling stock?) this would seem to summarise the operations pattern.

Am I missing or misinterpreting anything with these assumptions?

Someone will be along with a more informative reply on the precise patterns.

I would imagine the precise composition of diagrams is at the whim of the patterns of ships and so subject to ad hoc changes.

You can also check using RTT the pattern of services on a given day. The big one you are missing in your list is London Gateway, which yesterday had 4 each way to Trafford Park. There's also a daily Daventry.

I think 'up to' is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Yesterday there were 29 liner workings (I don't know whether Freightliner, DB, GBRf, DRS) to and from the various Trafford Park terminals. So '20 services a day' is either a low estimate of to and from workings, or a low bid on single direction.

 

[Fedupnorthern]

Thanks for filling in the blanks. I guess there are various terminals other than Freightliner, so that may cover the difference from your quoted 29.

I presume these are primarily focussed on the Castlefield corridor, so assuming each freight wipes out up to 3 normal commuter paths we are looking at between 80 and 90 lost paths over the day. Some of those paths will be in antisocial hours, but many will wipe out commute capacity in the peaks.

 

[j37401]

Thanks for filling in the blanks. I guess there are various terminals other than Freightliner, so that may cover the difference from your quoted 29.

I presume these are primarily focussed on the Castlefield corridor, so assuming each freight wipes out up to 3 normal commuter paths we are looking at between 80 and 90 lost paths over the day. Some of those paths will be in antisocial hours, but many will wipe out commute capacity in the peaks.

I am not sure it is clear cut that a freight train wipes out 3 passenger slots. The liners in and out of Trafford Park are rather long taking up several short signalling sections but on the other hand these do not stop at Deansgate, Oxford Road or Piccadilly so it may only wipe out one passenger path per hour although i'm sure somebody will come along with some better calculations.

I can't vouch for Freightliner who appear to operate the lions share of the workings to their terminal next to Old Trafford. But the Euro Terminal next door currently handles six services per day. x3 DB - Southampton / Felixstowe / London Gateway, x2 GBRf Southampton / Felixstowe and one DRS - Daventry Tesco.

 

[atillathehunn]

Thanks for filling in the blanks. I guess there are various terminals other than Freightliner, so that may cover the difference from your quoted 29.

I presume these are primarily focussed on the Castlefield corridor, so assuming each freight wipes out up to 3 normal commuter paths we are looking at between 80 and 90 lost paths over the day. Some of those paths will be in antisocial hours, but many will wipe out commute capacity in the peaks.

12 of the services that ran yesterday were booked after 10pm or before 0700, so I can't imagine intensively competing for paths with passenger traffic.

I am not a planner, so I cannot comment on your numbers. Ultimately every train that has a pathing opportunity cost, and I have no idea how they determine who gets what path. Every freight train could be a local train, every local train could be an express - there has to be a decision somewhere. We also cannot see whether the paths occupied by the freight through the Castlefield corridor would join up to another usable path towards Bolton/Wigan, or the other way to Stockport (we know it eats an airport line path, as that's the way they go).

 

[Freightmaster]

I am not sure it is clear cut that a freight train wipes out 3 passenger slots. The liners in and out of Trafford Park are rather long taking up several short signalling sections but on the other hand these do not stop at Deansgate, Oxford Road or Piccadilly so it may only wipe out one passenger path per hour although i'm sure somebody will come along with some better calculations.

If you want to see how much time a daytime freight working takes to negotiate the Manchester 'corridor',
check out the first 20 minutes of this drivers eye view video:

(video is a 4 hour 20 minute cab ride from Trafford Park to Wembley)




MARK

 

[Class15]

Does anyone know if anything is wrong today at Felixstowe (Freightliner)? Majority of trains seem to be cancelled.

 

[Numbskull100]

Does anyone know if anything is wrong today at Felixstowe (Freightliner)? Majority of trains seem to be cancelled.

M63/L89 haven't run for a week (ISH) now.
L95 cancelled, issues up north I think, so S88 also cancelled.

Not sure about m87 - possibly issues at Daventry with the wires

M87 ran as Z87. Currently Birkhamstead

 

[D6130]

A friend living in South East London reports a new 2,200 tonne flow from Drax to East Peckham Tip this week. Does anyone know what it's carrying and which FOC is operating it please?

 

[xotGD]

A friend living in South East London reports a new 2,200 tonne flow from Drax to East Peckham Tip this week. Does anyone know what it's carrying and which FOC is operating it please?

Burning wood pellets still produces bottom ash and fly ash, albeit a lot less than from coal.

So I'd assume ash of some description.

 

[D6130]

Burning wood pellets still produces bottom ash and fly ash, albeit a lot less than from coal.

So I'd assume ash of some description.

Thanks!

 

[Freightmaster]

...and which FOC is operating it please?

GBRf.

Regular trains are expected to commence in January, all being well.



MARK

 

[AndrewE]

Burning wood pellets still produces bottom ash and fly ash, albeit a lot less than from coal.
So I'd assume ash of some description.

As it is ash from burning pure wood (we are told) I am surprised that it can't be used as a feedstock in the fertiliser industry or something similar...

 

[geordieblue]

Couple of interesting DB route learners ran this week, Masborough-Tees and Doncaster-Rossington - anyone got ideas on either of these?

 

[Freightmaster]

Couple of interesting DB route learners ran this week, Masborough-Tees and Doncaster-Rossington - anyone got ideas on either of these?

Rossington is for an upcoming new flow of scrap metal to Hartlepool.



MARK

 

[geordieblue]

Rossington is for an upcoming new flow of scrap metal to Hartlepool.



MARK

interesting - thanks

 

[DBS92042]

I've heard several rumours recently that the Bridgwater flasks are stopping by the end of November. Does anyone know if there's any truth to this?
Thanks in advance

Just to add to this, it'd appear the rumours were correct. Hinkley Point B has now finished defueling and the last flask train from Bridgwater ran on 28th November (or at least the last one for some time until Point C is up and running). I believe that now leaves no booked freight whatsoever between Cogload Jnc and Parson St Jnc...

 

[j37401]

DB Cargo have recently signed extended contracts for the Seaforth - Mossend and Teesport - Mossend intermodal services. 66108 is being named 'Seaforth Highlander' at Seaforth dock tomorrow 9th Dec.

 

[stantheman]

DB Cargo have recently signed extended contracts for the Seaforth - Mossend and Teesport - Mossend intermodal services. 66108 is being named 'Seaforth Highlander' at Seaforth dock tomorrow 9th Dec.

Is that the one that splits at Mossend with a portion going to Grangemouth ?

 

[HST125Scorton]

Does anyone know when the last time the steel service ran from Seaforth? I believe it was some sort of trial flow. From my own notes 22nd Sept seems to be the last one?.

Also quick question regarding the Weaste Cement. Does the loco run round at Eccles or does the train set back down the branch to the terminal?

 

[j37401]

Does anyone know when the last time the steel service ran from Seaforth? I believe it was some sort of trial flow. From my own notes 22nd Sept seems to be the last one?.

Yes 22nd Sept the last trial. I believe this is still on the cards of 2026 as Peel are ramping up space for imported coil.