Intermodal freight through Manchester Piccadilly

[telstarbox]

There are often intermodal freight trains running through Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road. Where do these trains run to and from, apart from the Trafford Park terminal?

Also, when unloading large numbers of intermodal containers from trains/ships, how do they ensure that the correct container ends up in the same place?

 

[sprinterguy]

The vast majority of the intermodal traffic that passes through Manchester Piccadilly terminates at or originates from Trafford Park. Freightliner operated trains originate from the ports of either Southampton or Felixstowe at the other end of their journeys, while those operated by DB Schenker, often utilising class 92 locos, include international traffic that comes through the Channel Tunnel to Dollands Moor, and also serve domestic intermodal flows from the likes of Daventry.

 

[Freightmaster]

Where do these trains run to and from...?

Freightliner operate ten trains a day to Trafford Park, conveying containers
from Felixstowe, Southampton, Thamesport and Tilbury.

GBRf run a single daily train from Felixstowe

DB Schenker used to operate several services to Trafford Park,
including various flows from continental locations via the Channel Tunnel,
but almost all have been withdrawn due to lack of viable traffic, leaving
just a single daily train from Southampton, and even that only runs as
a connection to/from Birch Coppice.

MARK

 

[telstarbox]

Brilliant - cheers. Where do the containers go once they come off the train at Trafford Park? Do they go to businesses in the Manchester area or further afield?

 

[Phil H]

I am interested in the reverse logistics, as what services are running empty containers back for reuse.
Also can anyone explain how the car train that seems to travel the WCML many evenings loaded with cars never seems to run back with empty wagons, so where do the next wagons for the the following delivery gey into place.

 

[Freightmaster]

I am interested in the reverse logistics, as what services are running empty containers back for reuse.

I think you'll find that most trains to ports are predominately empty;
a sad reflection on the lamentable state of our balance of trade these days!

Also can anyone explain how the car train that seems to travel the WCML many evenings loaded with cars never seems to run back with empty wagons, so where do the next wagons for the the following delivery gey into place.

Which train - the 66-hauled one which runs to Southampton (one of three a day)
or the 90/92 hauled service to Dagenham?

MARK

 

[Twoonthebuzzer]

Not directly related I know, but I've noticed there's a FO car train from Halewood to Southampton that's routed via Lickey, Bristol, Bath, Westbury and Romsey.

Any reason why when all other north/south freight goes via Didcot and Basingstoke?

 

[Lrd]

Not directly related I know, but I've noticed there's a FO car train from Halewood to Southampton that's routed via Lickey, Bristol, Bath, Westbury and Romsey.

Any reason why when all other north/south freight goes via Didcot and Basingstoke?

Probably route knowledge for the crew and/or pathing issues on the usual route.

 

[Phil H]

I think you'll find that most trains to ports are predominately empty;
a sad reflection on the lamentable state of our balance of trade these days!



Which train - the 66-hauled one which runs to Southampton (one of three a day)
or the 90/92 hauled service to Dagenham?

MARK

I guess it's a 66. It passes Northampton around 8pm some evenings loaded with Range Rovers by the looks of it.

 

[D1009]

Not directly related I know, but I've noticed there's a FO car train from Halewood to Southampton that's routed via Lickey, Bristol, Bath, Westbury and Romsey.

Any reason why when all other north/south freight goes via Didcot and Basingstoke?

I think this situation will arise more frequently when the upgrade works at Reading effectively remove the current recessing facility between Scours Lane Jn and Reading West Jn. Also car trains being lighter can use the Lickey without needing assistance and do not have problems with large containers.

 

[Freightmaster]

I guess it's a 66. It passes Northampton around 8pm some evenings loaded with Range Rovers by the looks of it.

That's 6O38 - one the three daily Halewood to Southampton trains.

The other two loaded trains (and all three empties) run via Banbury,
which explains the apparent imbalance in loaded/empty trains that
you have noticed...

MARK

 

[Clip]

Also, when unloading large numbers of intermodal containers from trains/ships, how do they ensure that the correct container ends up in the same place?

Containers are loaded on ships in a precise way and that data is then sent over to which ever port it is going to so that when it gets there the crane drivers know where it is through a computer in their cab. Containers also have numbers on the side for noticing it.

There was something on Discovery about this which is quite an interesting watch, like the bloke who invented the modern container got the design and dimensions so right that he was persuaded to give up the patent for it so that everyone could build them and there would be a standardised mode of transporting goods round not only America at the time but the world.