Imerys Cornish Clay contract to GBRF from April 2026

[Bringback309s]

As the CDAs moved over to JIAs and DB closed St Blazey depot the final "piece of the jigsaw" seems to be DB are handing over the contract, drivers and Goonbarrow sidings to GBRF next month. Will it continue to be operated by 66's?

 

[Helvellyn]

As the CDAs moved over to JIAs and DB closed St Blazey depot the final "piece of the jigsaw" seems to be DB are handing over the contract, drivers and Goonbarrow sidings to GBRF next month. Will it continue to be operated by 66's?

If the Drivers are to TUPE over to GBRf then the simplest thing would be to use Class 66s to avoid any retraining. The only other option would be 69s?

 

[fgwrich]

That’s good to hear, I’ve long wondered how it could / would be operated differently under another FOC such as GBRf. It also gives them access to St Blazey for the Britannic when that starts running again.

I could also see it being a home for a number of the 69 fleet. We already know they can operate into and around various lines in Cornwall and with GB needing use for the fleet, Cornwall would rather suit them well.

 

[northernbelle]

That’s good to hear, I’ve long wondered how it could / would be operated differently under another FOC such as GBRf. It also gives them access to St Blazey for the Britannic when that starts running again.

I could also see it being a home for a number of the 69 fleet. We already know they can operate into and around various lines in Cornwall and with GB needing use for the fleet, Cornwall would rather suit them well.

St Blazey was up for sale, so access is far from guaranteed assuming GBRf haven't bought it.

 

[j37401]

Nobody seems to know what is going on this this contract. Rumours were that GBRf were taking over. Then GBRf were pulling out and the traffic is going via road. Not surprising with what little traffic there is left. I've heard that Cliff Vale don't require as much clay any more and the train was to go down to once every two weeks. Also strangely the Cliff Vale job is down to run this week after i was informed the last train ran 2/3 weeks ago.

 

[Bringback309s]

Nobody seems to know what is going on this this contract. Rumours were that GBRf were taking over. Then GBRf were pulling out and the traffic is going via road. Not surprising with what little traffic there is left. I've heard that Cliff Vale don't require as much clay any more and the train was to go down to once every two weeks. Also strangely the Cliff Vale job is down to run this week after i was informed the last train ran 2/3 weeks ago.

The last one ran two / three weeks ago because of the Plymouth blockade. The (often) daily pits to Calne point run moves a lot of clay, if that moves to road there would be complaints from local residents!

 

[Express380]

The (often) daily pits to Calne point run moves a lot of clay, if that moves to road there would be complaints from local residents!

3 Times a week it runs at most. But your point still stands. Lets hope it doesn't move to road as there is enough on the roads as it is!

 

[Bringback309s]

Currently double headed so GBRF will be straight in at the deep end if the points at Par don't get fixed!

 

[fgwrich]

The last one ran two / three weeks ago because of the Plymouth blockade. The (often) daily pits to Calne point run moves a lot of clay, if that moves to road there would be complaints from local residents!

*Carne Point

3 Times a week it runs at most. But your point still stands. Lets hope it doesn't move to road as there is enough on the roads as it is!

Whilst there is that, don’t forget that Imerys does actually have its own private road way in the form of the former Cornwall Mineral Railway line from Par / Par Docks. Although that doesn’t help for any movements from Goonbarrow or Parkandillick, it does allow them to continue to convey dried clay from the Clay Dries there to Carne Point for onward loading.

 

[train_lover]

I don't really understand why questions are being raised over choice of traction. Any other traction than 66s would require drivers to have traction training/ handling hours. Lets not forget this isn't just the cornwall drivers either. So drivers along the line would possibly need training. Depending on what depots get involved you could be looking at 3 or 4 depots needing traction train if 66s aren't to be used.

I think its fair to say that it'll be 66s. All the ex DB lot will need is a quick look around a euro 66!

 

[Express380]

I don't really understand why questions are being raised over choice of traction. Any other traction than 66s would require drivers to have traction training/ handling hours. Lets not forget this isn't just the cornwall drivers either. So drivers along the line would possibly need training. Depending on what depots get involved you could be looking at 3 or 4 depots needing traction train if 66s aren't to be used.

I think its fair to say that it'll be 66s. All the ex DB lot will need is a quick look around a euro 66!

I can't think of any GB depot that wouldn't sign 69s barr of course Goonbarrow but even with that one depot it - as mentioned would still be most logical as 66s as they (unsuprisingly) handle most of the traffic

Whilst there is that, don’t forget that Imerys does actually have its own private road way in the form of the former Cornwall Mineral Railway line from Par / Par Docks. Although that doesn’t help for any movements from Goonbarrow or Parkandillick, it does allow them to continue to convey dried clay from the Clay Dries there to Carne Point for onward loading.

Yes indeed there is that and that most certainly helps, however if you see the road vehicles already in use from the Dryers on the public lanes/roads, removing the rail movements would make it more congested than it already is and more complains from residents as mentioned by someone above.

More on topic on the rail side it would be Treviscoe not Parkandillick whilst there might be road movements from Park still, there have been no rail moves since the CDAs in mid 2023. And rail traffic handled mid week from Treviscoe. Although for some reason on RTT "Parkandillack GBRF" is listed rather than Treviscoe despite them being highly unlikely to go there.

 

[train_lover]

I can't think of any GB depot that wouldn't sign 69s barr of course Goonbarrow but even with that one depot it - as mentioned would still be most logical as 66s as they (unsuprisingly) handle most of the traffic

Yes indeed there is that and that most certainly helps, however if you see the road vehicles already in use from the Dryers on the public lanes/roads, removing the rail movements would make it more congested than it already is and more complains from residents as mentioned by someone above.

More on topic on the rail side it would be Treviscoe not Parkandillick whilst there might be road movements from Park still, there have been no rail moves since the CDAs in mid 2023. And rail traffic handled mid week from Treviscoe. Although for some reason on RTT "Parkandillack GBRF" is listed rather than Treviscoe despite them being highly unlikely to go there.

I'm a driver for GB and very few people/ depots sign the 69s hence why you only see them on certain services. I'm at a depot with 46 drivers and only 3 drivers at my depot sign them. There will be many depots across the company that don't sign them.

 

[Express380]

I'm a driver for GB and very few people/ depots sign the 69s hence why you only see them on certain services. I'm at a depot with 46 drivers and only 3 drivers at my depot sign them. There will be many depots across the company that don't sign them.

My apologies seeing the amount of different places they have appeared I (wrongly) assumed they are signed by the majority. Thank you for the info.

 

[train_lover]

My apologies seeing the amount of different places they have appeared I (wrongly) assumed they are signed by the majority. Thank you for the info.

No need to apologise, it's not a problem.

The thing with GB is its not like a typical company where each depot will sign whatever routes and traction are allocated to the depot. Everyone has a slightly different traction and route card. Again, at my depot everyone has a different traction and route card.

You then have mobile drivers and the rail services drivers who float around the country.

So if a 69 did venture down to Cornwall the chances are one of the mobile drivers would do the honours or you might have a Bristol driver who could do it...rather than spending time and money signing the Cornwall drivers on 69s.

 

[Adrian Barr]

Nobody seems to know what is going on this this contract. Rumours were that GBRf were taking over. Then GBRf were pulling out and the traffic is going via road. Not surprising with what little traffic there is left. I've heard that Cliff Vale don't require as much clay any more and the train was to go down to once every two weeks. Also strangely the Cliff Vale job is down to run this week after i was informed the last train ran 2/3 weeks ago.

My understanding is that GBRF won the Imerys contract, but lost the Cliffe Vale traffic to road haulage.

The Cliffe Vale train should run again this week, and if it runs next week that could be the final train, depending on the date the contract swaps over (1st April?)

One concern with losing the Cliffe Vale flow is that all the traffic to Fowey is currently loaded at Goonbarrow, leaving a question mark over the Parkandillack and Par Harbour branches. Cliffe Vale traffic is normally loaded at Treviscoe and Par Harbour, with a trip to Par Harbour on Wednesdays and Treviscoe on Thursdays (or sometimes vice versa).

Trains used to run regularly from Treviscoe to Fowey (and also from nearby Parkandillack until that ceased being used as a loading point in 2020) but these workings have been very rare since the CDAs were taken out of traffic in August 2023.

Will it continue to be operated by 66's?

I would think so, for reasons already mentioned but also because of some steep gradients which I don't think would suit the 69s. From Par to Lostwithiel involves a climb up to Treverrin tunnel, part of which is at 1 in 62 and can pose a challenge in autumn.

======================================

Update 19th March: The Cliffe Vale working (today's 6M53 and associated trips) ended up being cancelled this week...

 

[Nat the Ned]

One concern with losing the Cliffe Vale flow is that all the traffic to Fowey is currently loaded at Goonbarrow, leaving a question mark over the Parkandillack and Par Harbour branches. Cliffe Vale traffic is normally loaded at Treviscoe and Par Harbour, with a trip to Par Harbour on Wednesdays and Treviscoe on Thursdays (or sometimes vice versa).

The dryers at Par Harbour are closing this summer anyway, so that branch is doomed......

 

[Express380]

Realtime Trains | 0Z11 0956 Parkandillack to Lostwithiel Up Goods Loop | 25/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Z11 0956 departure from Parkandillack to Lostwithiel Up Goods Loop on 25/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R38007/2026-03-25/detailed

A couple route learning? paths for Wednesday for the Treviscoe/Fowey/Par Harbour branches. Comes from Tonbridge on Tuesday.

 

[317362]

66312 is on the moves around Cornwall this week, came in on Tuesday from Tonbridge, operating the move above and heads back to Kent Thu. Data from non urgent TOPS thread

 

[Adrian Barr]

The Par Harbour trip ran yesterday (6T53 empties from Goonbarrow and 6C10 loads to Exeter) and the Treviscoe trip is running today (6B00 from Goonbarrow then 6M53 11:46 to Cliffe Vale via Westbury, picking up the Par Harbour wagons at Exeter). The empties return tomorrow as 6V73 14:27 Cliffe Vale - Westbury to form 6V76 10:35 Westbury - Goonbarrow on Saturday.

GBRF are taking over on 1st April, so the last DB clay workings should be the 6G09 Goonbarrow to Fowey and 6G05 return on Monday and Tuesday.

If the information that GBRF will not be working the Cliffe Vale services turns out to be correct, this week's train could be the last Cliffe Vale working...

 

[Express380]

The Par Harbour trip ran yesterday (6T53 empties from Goonbarrow and 6C10 loads to Exeter) and the Treviscoe trip is running today (6B00 from Goonbarrow then 6M53 11:46 to Cliffe Vale via Westbury, picking up the Par Harbour wagons at Exeter). The empties return tomorrow as 6V73 14:27 Cliffe Vale - Westbury to form 6V76 10:35 Westbury - Goonbarrow on Saturday.

GBRF are taking over on 1st April, so the last DB clay workings should be the 6G09 Goonbarrow to Fowey and 6G05 return on Monday and Tuesday.

If the information that GBRF will not be working the Cliffe Vale services turns out to be correct, this week's train could be the last Cliffe Vale working...

I wonder if the GB loco will come down with the empties from Westbury ready for Wednesday.

 

[Adrian Barr]

There's an 0Z13 12:49 Eastleigh Yard - Plymouth schedule on Tuesday (31st) and an 0Z53 04:39 Plymouth - Goonbarrow on Wednesday (1st) which connects with a 6T53 WO 06:45 Goonbarrow - Par Harbour, 6C53 15:19 Par Harbour - Exeter, 0C53 18:52 Exeter - Goonbarrow, and 6B00 ThO 06:45 Goonbarrow - Parkandillack [really Treviscoe]

That might hint the Cliffe Vale workings will continue, but I think it's a case of "wait and see" at the moment as to what actually runs...

 

[Pinus contorta]

There's an 0Z13 12:49 Eastleigh Yard - Plymouth schedule on Tuesday (31st) and an 0Z53 04:39 Plymouth - Goonbarrow on Wednesday (1st) which connects with a 6T53 WO 06:45 Goonbarrow - Par Harbour, 6C53 15:19 Par Harbour - Exeter, 0C53 18:52 Exeter - Goonbarrow, and 6B00 ThO 06:45 Goonbarrow - Parkandillack [really Treviscoe]

That might hint the Cliffe Vale workings will continue, but I think it's a case of "wait and see" at the moment as to what actually runs...

How economic is it sending clay up to Cliffe Vale by rail when the trainload has to go to Exeter in two portions? And It doesnt seem to operate every week - which I assume also means there are leased JIA's sat around not being used ....

 

[Mollman]

How economic is it sending clay up to Cliffe Vale by rail when the trainload has to go to Exeter in two portions? And It doesnt seem to operate every week - which I assume also means there are leased JIA's sat around not being used ....

I guess the question is how many lorry journeys does it save and could it be done with one lorry and driver a few times a week or do you need to have multiple lorries and drivers on the road at the same time?

 

[Express380]

With 66168 having left Cornwall a few hours ago and 66787 standing at Plymouth it seems tomorrows new era is ready to roll. GBRF on from here.