Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[Adrian Barr]

DCR have, reportedly, ceased working into Tytherington for HS2 aggregates, as of next week 6M29 will be operating daily between Penmaenmawr Quarry and Quainton Railhead alongside the current 6A25

I think there has been a minor switch around of the HS2 aggregate contracts, which has also resulted in DB Cargo working from Machen to Appleford, plus a DB Cargo Whatley to West Drayton flow which started this week (ran as 6Z53 18:58 ThO Whatley - Westbury then 6Z54 04:02 FO Westbury - West Drayton Frays siding / Coal Yard).

It's tricky to figure out which trains / locations are dedicated to HS2 traffic, but focusing on terminals and loading points in the south (ignoring Birmingham and Banbury and points north) I think the main HS2 terminals are Quainton, Appleford, Oxford Banbury Road, Willesden DCR sidings and West Drayton Coal Yard a.k.a. Frays siding - the old goods yard to the west of West Drayton station, not the hopper discharge terminal to the east. Appleford and Oxford Banbury road were already regular Mendip terminals and may still be receiving material for general construction purposes, but the current volume of trains indicates HS2 involvement.

Of the southern loading points, I think Machen and Tytherington are dedicated to HS2 flows, with some additional trains from Whatley and Merehead. DB Cargo operate several sand trains a week from Dagenham which I suspect are HS2 related (Freightliner operate regular Mendip stone trains from the Mendips to Dagenham, and the regular sand traffic in hoppers from Dagenham to Theale plus the other West Drayton terminal).

The DB Cargo train from Dagenham (usually running as a 6V12 00:37 Dagenham - Acton Yard) can serve West Drayton Coal Yard, Appleford, Cricklewood, or the Quattro terminal at Acton. Acton Quattro is a terminal receiving aggregate for concrete production and general distribution; some of it may be HS2 related. The Quattro terminal also receives trains from the Mendips, such as 6A19 00:12 Whatley - Acton which ran on Friday.

Other trains from the Mendips to Acton serve the former Foster Yeoman hopper discharge terminal - some of this traffic might be HS2 related but the terminal has a long history of use for general aggregates traffic. 6A31 05:35 Hanwell Loop to Acton (portion off 6A29 from Merehead) and 6M65 12:35 empties to Wembley ran on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday this week - I think Freightliner currently only run Mendip trains into Acton to serve the 2 terminals there, rather than to split jumbo portions (which is done at Hanwell or sometimes Southall instead).

Focusing on HS2 traffic in the south this week, this has been the Mon-Fri pattern of movements. All the flows listed below use bogie box wagons. Not all trains run direct - for example the DB Cargo service from Machen to Appleford operates as separate trains to and from Westbury yard, and the Freightliner flows from Machen often do the same at Newport East Usk Yard.

DBC = DB Cargo
HHRL = Heavy Haul Rail

HS2 traffic in the south:

Quarries:

Machen (Heidelberg)
Mon: 1 to Appleford (DBC), 1 to Oxford Banbury Road (HHRL),
Tue: 1 to Appleford (DBC), 1 to Lawley Street (HHRL), 1 to West Drayton (HHRL)
Wed: 1 to Appleford (DBC)
Thu: 1 to Appleford (DBC), 1 to Lawley Street (HHRL)
Fri: 1 to Appleford (DBC), 2 to West Drayton (Saturday and Monday deliveries - HHRL)

Penmaenmawr (Heidelberg)
Mon: 1 to Quainton (DCR)
Tue: 1 to Quainton (DCR)
Wed: 1 to Quainton (DCR)
Thu: 1 to Quainton (DCR)
Fri: 1 to Quainton (DCR)

Tytherington (Heidelberg)
Mon: 1 to Quainton (GBRF), 1 to Oxford Banbury Road (HHRL)
Tue: 1 to Quainton (GBRF), 1 to Oxford Banbury Road (HHRL), 1 to Appleford (HHRL)
Wed: 1 to Quainton (GBRF), 1 to Oxford Banbury Road (HHRL), 1 to Appleford (HHRL)
Thu: 1 to Quainton (GBRF), 1 to Appleford (HHRL)
Fri: 1 to Quainton (GBRF), 1 to Oxford Banbury Road (HHRL), 1 to Appleford (HHRL)

Offloading terminals:

Appleford
Mon 2 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington? (HHRL), 1 ex Machen (DBC)
Tue: 2 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington (HHRL), 1 ex Machen (DBC)
Wed: 2 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington (HHRL), 1 ex Machen (DBC)
Thu: 2 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington (HHRL), 1 ex Machen (DBC)
Fri: 2 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington (HHRL), 1 ex Machen (DBC)

Oxford Banbury Road
Mon: 1 ex Whatley? (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington (HHRL)
Tue: 1 ex Machen (HHRL), 1 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington (HHRL)
Wed: 1 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington (HHRL)
Thu: 1 ex Whatley (HHRL)
Fri: 1 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Tytherington (HHRL)

Quainton
Mon: 1 ex Penmaenmawr (DCR), 1 ex Tytherington (GBRF), 1 ex Merehead (DCR)
Tue: 1 ex Penmaenmawr (DCR), 1 ex Tytherington (GBRF), 1 ex Merehead (DCR)
Wed: 1 ex Penmaenmawr (DCR), 1 ex Tytherington (GBRF), 1 ex Merehead (DCR)
Thu: 1 ex Penmaenmawr (DCR), 1 ex Tytherington (GBRF), 1 ex Merehead (DCR)
Fri: 1 ex Penmaenmawr (DCR), 1 ex Tytherington (GBRF), 1 ex Merehead (DCR)

West Drayton (Coal Yard a.k.a. Frays Siding)
Mon: 2 ex Whatley (HHRL)
Tue: 2 ex Whatley (HHRL)
Wed: 1 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Dagenham (DBC), 1 ex Machen (HHRL)
Thu: 2 ex Whatley (HHRL)
Fri: 1 ex Whatley (HHRL), 1 ex Whatley (6Z54 DBC), 1 ex Dagenham (DBC)

Willesden DCR sidings
Mon: 1 ex Merehead (DCR)
Tue: No trains offloading
Wed: 1 ex Merehead (DCR)
Thu: No trains offloading
Fri: No trains offloading

The runs with 66850 were so that Colas could keep the paths.

Interesting, thanks. I've heard rumours that some of the lost tonnage moved from Lindsey may return to rail, but whether that would be loaded at Humber or Lindsey I'm not sure.

*

For the record, these are the current WTT paths at Kingsbury Oil Terminal; with only the DB ones now in regular use:

01:49 arr 6M24 ex Lindsey (Colas)
04:16 dep 6E46 to Lindsey (Colas)

06:48 arr 6M35 ex Humber (DB)
10:38 dep 6E54 to Humber (DB)

13:14 arr 6M57 ex Lindsey (Colas)
17:39 dep 6E59 to Lindsey (Colas)

20:14 arr 6M00 ex Humber (DB)
23:36 dep 6E68 to Humber (DB)

 

[ExRes]

The first of a new flow or a one off? DCR schedules currently showing for Tuesday 0252 6O11 Willesden DCR to Angerstein Wharf (Tarmac) for loaded 1103 6Y12 to Chessington South Sidings & 1942 6M17 back to Willesden

Thanks for all the HS2 info @Adrian Barr

 

[axl88]

I think there has been a minor switch around of the HS2 aggregate contracts, which has also resulted in DB Cargo working from Machen to Appleford, plus a DB Cargo Whatley to West Drayton flow which started this week (ran as 6Z53 18:58 ThO Whatley - Westbury then 6Z54 04:02 FO Westbury - West Drayton Frays siding / Coal Yard).

It's tricky to figure out which trains / locations are dedicated to HS2 traffic, but focusing on terminals and loading points in the south (ignoring Birmingham and Banbury and points north) I think the main HS2 terminals are Quainton, Appleford, Oxford Banbury Road, Willesden DCR sidings and West Drayton Coal Yard a.k.a. Frays siding - the old goods yard to the west of West Drayton station, not the hopper discharge terminal to the east. Appleford and Oxford Banbury road were already regular Mendip terminals and may still be receiving material for general construction purposes, but the current volume of trains indicates HS2 involvement.

Of the southern loading points, I think Machen and Tytherington are dedicated to HS2 flows, with some additional trains from Whatley and Merehead. DB Cargo operate several sand trains a week from Dagenham which I suspect are HS2 related (Freightliner operate regular Mendip stone trains from the Mendips to Dagenham, and the regular sand traffic in hoppers from Dagenham to Theale plus the other West Drayton terminal).

The DB Cargo train from Dagenham (usually running as a 6V12 00:37 Dagenham - Acton Yard) can serve West Drayton Coal Yard, Appleford, Cricklewood, or the Quattro terminal at Acton. Acton Quattro is a terminal receiving aggregate for concrete production and general distribution; some of it may be HS2 related. The Quattro terminal also receives trains from the Mendips, such as 6A19 00:12 Whatley - Acton which ran on Friday.

Other trains from the Mendips to Acton serve the former Foster Yeoman hopper discharge terminal - some of this traffic might be HS2 related but the terminal has a long history of use for general aggregates traffic. 6A31 05:35 Hanwell Loop to Acton (portion off 6A29 from Merehead) and 6M65 12:35 empties to Wembley ran on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday this week - I think Freightliner currently only run Mendip trains into Acton to serve the 2 terminals there, rather than to split jumbo portions (which is done at Hanwell or sometimes Southall instead).

Focusing on HS2 traffic in the south this week, this has been the Mon-Fri pattern of movements. All the flows listed below use bogie box wagons. Not all trains run direct - for example the DB Cargo service from Machen to Appleford operates as separate trains to and from Westbury yard, and the Freightliner flows from Machen often do the same at Newport East Usk Yard.

The increased stone going into Appleford is in connection with the Didcot to Culham river crossing, which will see a bridge being constructed over Appleford sidings.
In the past Appleford, West Drayton Frays and Oxford Banbury Rd were unloading points for HS2, but not now.


Interestingly DCR ran some trains recently from Machen to Oxford Banbury Rd, Appleford and West Drayton, and David Fletcher posted that the later was a 'new flow'

I have since heard a rumour that Cappagh have acquired the Old Coal Yard at West Drayton (Frays).

 

[Western Sunset]

I understand that freight might return to the Hamworthy branch from next month, with stone being imported via Poole port. There has certainly been activity on the branch to reinstate it for use, over the past month or two.

 

[furnessvale]

I understand that freight might return to the Hamworthy branch from next month, with stone being imported via Poole port. There has certainly been activity on the branch to reinstate it for use, over the past month or two.

I wonder if imported stone pays aggregates tax and on a similar vein, does exported waste pay landfill tax?

Either one could affect the value of imports/exports.

 

[JKF]

Apologies if this has been covered already but what’s the latest on the Portbury > Margam steel flow? Every recent diagram has been cancelled according to my (free) view in RTT. Has this service stopped for the time being? I ask because I like to plan my after-work rides to catch a glimpse of it along the Pill Path!

The service was manually activated in the early hours of this morning, then cancelled due to ‘traction issues’. It might have just been someone hitting a button in error, or could be a sign of resumption. I’ll have a look to see what is in port at the moment.

 

[Inafinus]

The service was manually activated in the early hours of this morning, then cancelled due to ‘traction issues’. It might have just been someone hitting a button in error, or could be a sign of resumption. I’ll have a look to see what is in port at the moment.

Fabulous, thank you!

 

[JKF]

Fabulous, thank you!

It’s running today, 66312 providing traction (this loco worked the service a couple of times last July).

Unfortunately I have an outpatient appointment today at pretty much the exact time it gets to the gorge! I’ll be out in the woods for the return working.

 

[Adrian Barr]

A couple of interesting daylight freight diversions over the East West Rail route today.

4Z77 04:30 Tilbury 2 to Daventry ran via Willesden High Level, Acton, Reading, Oxford, Bletchley this morning with 66427. The 4L48 14:00 return from Daventry is booked to run the same way.

6M45 06:53 Dollands Moor - Daventry (water train) with 66104 is also running via Acton, Reading, Oxford, Bletchley. The 16:09 6O71 return working is also taking the same route.

 

[CDM Transport]

Hello all. Does anyone have any idea / confirmation if the 6C56 etc Aber logs train has finished operating completely? I've been told the wagons are being scrapped.

 

[CDM Transport]

I’ve read that the Baglan logs are due to return at some point - unsure if this is true or not.

Also any ideas on this please.

 

[geordieblue]

Also any ideas on this please.

Not sure this is correct any more - the wagons they used to use on the flow have now apparently been scrapped.

 

[CDM Transport]

Not sure this is correct any more - the wagons they used to use on the flow have now apparently been scrapped.

Thank you. Heard the same about the Aber logs.

 

[Forty29]

A couple of interesting daylight freight diversions over the East West Rail route today.

4Z77 04:30 Tilbury 2 to Daventry ran via Willesden High Level, Acton, Reading, Oxford, Bletchley this morning with 66427. The 4L48 14:00 return from Daventry is booked to run the same way.

6M45 06:53 Dollands Moor - Daventry (water train) with 66104 is also running via Acton, Reading, Oxford, Bletchley. The 16:09 6O71 return working is also taking the same route.

Same loco on 6M45 today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Apr 2026 ==

The Aber logs ran again quite recently didn't they or am l mistaken. If so they were rapidly disposed of. Or were newer wagons used? Does anyone know where they were cut up if this is correct?

 

[BorderCollie]

Depending on their physical state, it's astonishing log carriers have been scrapped as the Scottish Government and its prolific agencies have been regularly opining as to the lack of spare log carriers for much vaunted, but yet to materialise, potential new flows.

 

[66701GBRF]

Some GBRF Felixstowe changes post 20th April.

4L04/4M04 EMG - FXS - EMG returns
4L53/4M78 HH - FXN - HH discontinued
4L28/4E28 Donny - FXS - Donny *discontinued

*4E28 runs FXS - Donny Friday only

 

[Class15]

Freightliner have returned the 4L46 Lawley Street to London Gateway today by the looks of it. Presume return working is 4M43?

 

[furnessvale]

Depending on their physical state, it's astonishing log carriers have been scrapped as the Scottish Government and its prolific agencies have been regularly opining as to the lack of spare log carriers for much vaunted, but yet to materialise, potential new flows.

I have always wondered why side staked Lancashire flats, mounted on multifret or megafret wagons have not been considered? Presumably cost, but then again conversions of cargowaggons etc can not have been cheap.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I have always wondered why side staked Lancashire flats, mounted on multifret or megafret wagons have not been considered? Presumably cost, but then again conversions of cargowaggons etc can not have been cheap.

I remember as a TOPS clerk at Arpley Sidings in the mid-1970s when the VTG, Cargowaggon and Danzas bogie-ferryvans were new. That was 50 years ago so I expect they're effectively life-expired.

 

[Adrian Barr]

Does anyone have any idea / confirmation if the 6C56 etc Aber logs train has finished operating completely? I've been told the wagons are being scrapped.

The Aber logs ran again quite recently didn't they or am l mistaken. If so they were rapidly disposed of. Or were newer wagons used? Does anyone know where they were cut up if this is correct?

I was looking at the timber fleet used on the Chirk flows, and it's split into three types:

15 x KFA-T
GERS 97xxx number series
12 of these moved to Wards at Cardiff Docks (ex Baglan Bay) presumably for scrapping
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36034969@N08/48554311831/ (Photo: Adrian Nicholls)
Built: 1977-1979 as bogie ferry vans

10 x KSA
7047390xxx number series
Currently at Coton Hill, previously used on the Aberystwyth log trains.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/darrenjb/55131534320/ (Photo: Darren JB)
Built: 1996 as "High Cube" wagons for Rover Group Swindon - Longbridge body panel traffic
https://revolutiontrains.com/category/ksa/

30 x IWA
8435230xxx number series
Used on the Carlisle - Chirk flow. 4 are at Gascoigne Wood.
Built: 1987-1988 as bogie ferry vans
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36034969@N08/8741628785/ (Photo: Adrian Nicholls)
https://revolutiontrains.com/product/iwa-timber-carrier-rfnoos-twin-pack/

GBRf also use a pool of 10 similar IWA wagons (from the same 8435230xxx number series) as adaptor wagons for LUL stock moves, as seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/afc45014/54947729072/ (Photo: afc45014)
The ones in use for timber traffic appear to have additional stanchions fitted compared to this one.

***

With the KFA timber wagons (last used on the Baglan Bay traffic) being conversions from wagons that are almost 50 years old, it's not too surprising to see them head for scrap.

The 10 KSAs were in use on the Aberystwyth log traffic. This appears to have stopped at the end of January (I've no idea if it will restart) with the wagons stabled at Coton Hill, Shrewsbury since then.

The IWAs are used on the Carlisle - Chirk flow, with 22 of them currently on 6C37 Chirk - Carlisle.

It's interesting to see the three wagon fleets were split like this between the Baglan Bay / Aberystwyth / Carlisle timber flows. In the past I think the wagons were more of a mixed fleet, as seen here at Baglan Bay in 2017, with the wagons nearest the camera being an IWA on the left and a KSA on the right.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kitmasterbloke/34214886860/ (Photo: Steve Knight)

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

From Facebook with an image

Heavy Haul Rail with a 70005 having 6E88 0136 Dowlow Quarry Fhh to Grimsby Pyewipe Road S.B. unloaded on the Grimsby to Immingham Light Railway 10/04/26

I presume in addition to GB Railfreights weekly run?

Not my image below from the Freightliner Facebook group

 

[rick pike]

From Facebook with an image

Heavy Haul Rail with a 70005 having 6E88 0136 Dowlow Quarry Fhh to Grimsby Pyewipe Road S.B. unloaded on the Grimsby to Immingham Light Railway 10/04/26

I presume in addition to GB Railfreights weekly run?

Not my image below from the Freightliner Facebook group

View attachment 202220

Image courtesy of Kev Robinson.
Running again today 13/4/26 and due to run again on Friday 17/4/26.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Image courtesy of Kev Robinson.
Running again today 13/4/26 and due to run again on Friday 17/4/26.

Thank you

Is it a regular thing then and is it in addition to GB Railfreight weekly stone train

 

[Class15]

Has the Felixstowe to Wentloog service finished?

 

[Freightmaster]

Has the Felixstowe to Wentloog service finished?

It finished a few months ago - the only remaining FL workings from Wentloog
now are the daily trains to London Gateway(4L33) and Southampton(4O71)



MARK

 

[Class15]

It finished a few months ago - the only remaining FL workings from Wentloog
now are the daily trains to London Gateway(4L33) and Southampton(4O71)



MARK

Thank you so much Mark!

Is there any chance of this or the Ditton workings returning in the future?

 

[Numbskull100]

Thank you so much Mark!

Is there any chance of this or the Ditton workings returning in the future?

These were very much Maersk services, which now run out of Gateway.

The Wentloog ran for a while on a spot hire basis but there wasn't the traffic for it. It has run as a special s few times (as V59 / L36) early last quarter, but nothing since.

Both unlikely to return on permanent basis unless the boats move again.

 

[Bahnopa]

I have just seen on RTT that today and tomorrow a freight (6X08) is scheduled from Dollands Moor to Hull and return. What might this be?

 

[BRX]

I have just seen on RTT that today and tomorrow a freight (6X08) is scheduled from Dollands Moor to Hull and return. What might this be?

I note routed via Redhill rather than south London.

Realtime Trains | 6X08 2344 Dollands Moor Sdgs to Hull S.S. | 14/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 6X08 2344 departure from Dollands Moor Sdgs to Hull S.S. on 14/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[class 9]

Track panals for HS2 imported from Germany to a new logistics hub on the site of the old Freightliner terminal.