Freight train data

[Junior]

Are there any publicly accessible data sources to determine the length of different freight trains operating on the network?

I can get half of the info that I'm after from Real Time Trains (commodity, traction, origin / destination etc)... however, train length seems elusive.

Apologies if this has been asked before, or is in the wrong forum!

 

[Wyrleybart]

You probably won't get what you desire without access to TOPS , but I would suggest considering the old old "rule" which GBRf's John Smith has said a few times. "The profit is in the last wagon" which means running full trains.

So then you work out what a full train would be. Maybe watch a few videos at freight "hotspots" like Stafford, Carlisle, Water Orton, Oxford etc. The majority of box wagon trains seem to be about 20 or 21 wagons, with maybe aspirations for more. If you watch Daniel's "Ashville Weekly" on youtube, over the last few months he has been setting up an aggregates operations in his yard using DBC. although his first few trains have been arouind 20 or 21, he aspirations for more wagons per train.

Intermodal trains are mostly maxed out on length, in fact overlength, and once they leave Hampshire the liners up through he Thames valley have to run north of Oxford.

 

[Spartacus]

You probably won't get what you desire without access to TOPS , but I would suggest considering the old old "rule" which GBRf's John Smith has said a few times. "The profit is in the last wagon" which means running full trains.

Incidentally, in my experience I reckon GBRf run more trains over their booked weight than the rest of the FOCs put together!

 

[43096]

You probably won't get what you desire without access to TOPS , but I would suggest considering the old old "rule" which GBRf's John Smith has said a few times. "The profit is in the last wagon" which means running full trains.

It’s less than that based on a conversation I had with someone senior at Freightliner earlier this year.

 

[RUK]

Incidentally, in my experience I reckon GBRf run more trains over their booked weight than the rest of the FOCs put together!

Does that have consequences in terms of track wear?

 

[Spartacus]

Does that have consequences in terms of track wear?

I can't imagine so, it's not like they're overloading the wagons & therefore axle-weights, it's more a case of extra wagons on, so you've an extra couple of hundred tonnes sometimes, sometimes more. with the same 3300hp up front, so there's almost inevitably time loss. Being longer will also to some degree mean it takes longer to clear speed restrictions, such as over junctions.

 

[RUK]

Besides the wagons - if a locomotive has to work harder due to having a heavier load, does that exert more force upon the track? Do track access charges depend upon weight?