Radlett SRFI updates

[Nicholas Lewis]

Oh they have customers all right. Whether those customers are expecting to use rail or not, who knows.

I heard a rumour a few years ago that Royal Mail were signed up, no idea of that is true or not.

I’d be surprised if the rail works cost less than £100m.

100m for a few crossovers!! Still nice excuse to get somebody to pay for a new interlocking!!

 

[Bald Rick]

100m for a few crossovers!! Still nice excuse to get somebody to pay for a new interlocking!!

A few point ends on the main line, a fair bit of signalling, interlocking and screen changes, a massive underpass, changes to OLE, a rather substantial embankment from the railway down to the underpass, Christmas premium for the underpass slide, disruption costs for all this. Then there is the cost of all the sidings themselves.

I’ve been watching the underpass being built every day, and it is a very significant exercise with a large amount of plant and of course people working on it.

 

[richieb1971]

I heard a rumour a few years ago that Royal Mail were signed up, no idea of that is true or not.

I’d be surprised if the rail works cost less than £100m.

I read that speculative thread before this one after seeing an advert/story on this site. I wouldn't trust anything Royal Mail right now.

Up this thread a bit there is talk of aggregrates, do aggegrates tend to visit these sites as a common rule or you talking about aggregrates to build it?

 

[Bald Rick]

I read that speculative thread before this one after seeing an advert/story on this site. I wouldn't trust anything Royal Mail right now.

Up this thread a bit there is talk of aggregrates, do aggegrates tend to visit these sites as a common rule or you talking about aggregrates to build it?

Aggregates to build it. There is already a rail served aggregates terminal about a mile away, though. Served daily.

 

[sh24]

Could be, but I can’t see what attraction it has over services from DIRFT or the new Northampton site (also a SEGRO park). The latter two have direct rail connections inbound that can and are / will be served effectively and efficiently from Gateway / Felixstowe / Southampton, and also have direct northbound connections to the main freight route to Scotland. Any Caledonian bound trains from Radlett would have to head south, do a tour of north London, or possibly including a run round, before passing Northampton 3-4 hours later. They would also have roughly 2/3rds the capacity of those using Northampton, ie same cost for 2/3rds the income.

In an industry with margins so wafer thin they make an After Eight look morbidly obese, I personally can’t see how it adds up. Perhaps I‘m wrong.

It's more about which retailer(s) take the units. The two biggest look suitable for a NDC (national distribution centre) which could justify something to Scotland. But as you say the economics might not work at all.