Crossrail freight provision

[uvarvu]

Could the crossrail tunnels be used for freight overnight or is the loading gauge wrong? Was freight use ever considered?

 

[JonathanH]

Could the crossrail tunnels be used for freight overnight or is the loading gauge wrong? Was freight use ever considered?

There are very particular signalling arrangements in the tunnel and an alternative route which is available overnight and already used for freight.

I imagine the gradients aren't conducive to freight traffic either.

How much freight even exists that could make use of the tunnel?

 

[The Planner]

Could the crossrail tunnels be used for freight overnight or is the loading gauge wrong? Was freight use ever considered?

When would you maintain it? And I doubt its W10 clear as well as the issues of putting diesels along it.

 

[JonathanH]

How much freight even exists that could make use of the tunnel?

Looks like there are a few overnight Freightliner trains that go from Felixstowe and Tilbury to Wentloog but realistically there is no problem with them going via the North London Line.

Realtime Trains | 4V36 2245 Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Wentloog (Freightliners) | 30/05/2022

Real-time train running information for 4V36 2245 departure from Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Wentloog (Freightliners) on 30/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Bald Rick]

Could the crossrail tunnels be used for freight overnight or is the loading gauge wrong? Was freight use ever considered?

no it can’t. gradients, signalling, gauge, platform edge doors, etc etc.

it was considered in the early days of development- everything was - but discounted very quickly.

 

[miklcct]

Please don't fiddle with the idea of routing freights through the busy London, thank you.

We need more railways to carry passengers, not freight. Trains in London are massively overcrowded.

 

[MarkyT]

If you had an express parcels unit based on the Aventra platform, it could plausibly be equipped with the appropriate signalling systems for the crossrail tunnels and even matching doors for the platform screens if loading was desired anywhere in the central area. Legal disclaimer: This top-of-the-head suggestion does not imply my support for actually implementing the idea, nor does it claim any broader technical, economic, or political viability.

 

[tomuk]

If you had an express parcels unit based on the Aventra platform, it could plausibly be equipped with the appropriate signalling systems for the crossrail tunnels and even matching doors for the platform screens if loading was desired anywhere in the central area. Legal disclaimer: This top-of-the-head suggestion does not imply my support for actually implementing the idea, nor does it claim any broader technical, economic, or political viability.

Yes I don't believe the train is the problem but how do you get the parcels to the surface? I'm not sure the passenger lifts would be up to it. Are there any back of house freight/firefighting lifts?

 

[PeterC]

Yes I don't believe the train is the problem but how do you get the parcels to the surface? I'm not sure the passenger lifts would be up to it. Are there any back of house freight/firefighting lifts?

I suppose you could, with suitable stock, run from, say, London Gateway to distribution depots in the M4 corridor.

I doubt that it would be viable of course.