Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[EastWest]

The photo of Immingham Sorting Sidings states they have been “sold and now owned by ABP”. Does anybody know if this is for rail use, or redevelopment?

On an entirely different subject, there was an unusual MoD working this week : Kineton - Fairwater Yard -Mossend Euroterminal - Kineton (presumably loaded Fairwater to Mossend). Does anybody know what this was conveying, and where the load originated and was destined for?

 

[BorderCollie]

MOD containers.

Dan on Instagram: "↓ •66716 •6Z00 Fairwater Yard - Carlisle N.Y. •Bartletts Bridge •17/9/26"

4aspectrail on September 17, 2026: "↓ •66716 •6Z00 Fairwater Yard - Carlisle N.Y. •Bartletts Bridge •17/9/26".

www.instagram.com

 

[matt99001]

Yes - I'm told that they will be (temporarily?) taking over the flow in October to enable GBRf
to free up resources for RHTT work.

Yep, starting on Monday, looks like its back to their previously scheduled STP a year ago. With GBRf running this usual schedule too.

I assume its a gradual phasing out for GBRf this RHTT until March?

 

[JKF]

Paths in for DB cargo for Portbury steel trains from Monday:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R55441/2026-09-21/detailed

These run earlier than the GBRF ones did, similar to when the service started.

Last GBRF one ran on 8th September, there’s often quite a gap between batches of services (often due to when boats arrive) so possible the DB services won’t run immediately.

DB route learners ran Tuesday-Thursday last week. If anyone knows what ran on Wednesday 16th (0Z56) please let me know as I’ve asked twice in the TOPS request thread! Thanks.

 

[marty56110]

Paths in for DB cargo for Portbury steel trains from Monday:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R55441/2026-09-21/detailed

These run earlier than the GBRF ones did, similar to when the service started.

Last GBRF one ran on 8th September, there’s often quite a gap between batches of services (often due to when boats arrive) so possible the DB services won’t run immediately.

DB route learners ran Tuesday-Thursday last week. If anyone knows what ran on Wednesday 16th (0Z56) please let me know as I’ve asked twice in the TOPS request thread! Thanks.

GBRf service is booked to run Wednesday to Friday this week too.

 

[JKF]

GBRf service is booked to run Wednesday to Friday this week too.

DB train ran this morning with 66185. The DB service runs a bit early for me to see it, although was about an hour late on the return leg so I was able to pop down into the gorge for it.

I preferred it when DB had the contract and they ran two trains a day, crossing paths at Ashton Junction at lunchtime, and on some occasions you’d get a RHTT working around the same time too.

GBRF trains are in the timetable today but not running. There have been days previously where both company’s trains ran on the same day, which I think is when the DB early train first appeared, to fit around the late morning path GBRf had started using.

 

[WessexEclectic]

The train arrived as 6G54 (22:45 WO) from Liverpool EMR at Alexandra Docks, and returned as 6F56 17:01 Handsworth to Liverpool EMR, with 24 wagons.
...
Shunting appears to be quite complicated here, with the train having to reverse into Queen's head sidings to run round before splitting the train and propelling each portion in turn into the EMR siding for loading. The Trackmaps book shows that there was previously another rail-connected scrapyard for Sims Metals on the opposite side of the line to EMR, the disused remains of which can be seen in the photo of the route learner. Looking at old photos of the Handsworth scrap trains, I don't think any services have run since October 2015.

Have trains always had to be cut into two before being shunted into Coopers Metals? From aerial photos, it looks like there are 3 sidings at the location?

Weren't Queen's Head sidings formerly a Cement terminal before being a scrap loading site?

 

[172007]

Have trains always had to be cut into two before being shunted into Coopers Metals? From aerial photos, it looks like there are 3 sidings at the location?

Weren't Queen's Head sidings formerly a Cement terminal before being a scrap loading site?

Yes, trains previously were cut into two for shunting. And reversed out to go towardd Snow hill which caused delays to passenger services often.
Yes cement works were previously located on Queens Head sdgs.

Scrap metal out of Handsworth is also scheuled to run this coming week 26th October.

Thursday is Handsworth to Alexandra Dock on that day only

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H01222/2026-10-01/detailed

Friday

Handsworth to Worcester Firdays 2/10/26 to 11/12/26
Nothing as yet as to activity after worcester.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H01223/2026-10-02/detailed

Both the above are set as "Petroleum Products" so i immagine there is some tinkering to come in Trust.

 

[geordieblue]

A new 6V45 Brierley Hill-Cardiff train has also appeared: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H01224/2026-10-05/detailed. Unsure if this is linked to the above or something separate.

 

[172007]

A new 6V45 Brierley Hill-Cardiff train has also appeared: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H01224/2026-10-05/detailed. Unsure if this is linked to the above or something separate.

And also on the 1st and 2nd Oct but no inbounds.

Brierly Hill has occasionaly had aggregate deliveries over the years, mostly by what was then Freightliner Heavy Haul. Co-incedently with scrap out of Handaworth i think the last time that ran was sometime 2012-2017.

 

[matt99001]

Looks like a new schedule will be implemented for the Avonmouth-Sizewell C tunnel transporting logistics, 60% by rail and sea.

Sizewell C secures planning approval for Avonmouth tunnel production facility, supporting up to 400 jobs - Sizewell C

The components will be transported from Avonmouth to Suffolk via sea and rail, supporting Sizewell C's commitment to reducing HGV movements.

www.sizewellc.com

 

[SomeTrainboy]

The photo of Immingham Sorting Sidings states they have been “sold and now owned by ABP”. Does anybody know if this is for rail use, or redevelopment?

I believe they're building a container terminal near to (what was) the engine sheds, although unfortunately, I don't think they'll be using rail..

 

[JKF]

I would expect the tunnel heads to go via sea given they can be huge, but tunnel segments by rail. The sea route is rather long!

Would this run on east-west rail? Might suit bimode haulage given the distance running under wires.

 

[waverley47]

Would this run on east-west rail?

Either way, it needs to be facing north at Ipswich, but they're using Harwich yard to spin various workings around and shove them out of the way for the time being.

Sending it via E-W and the Marston Vale, thence Corby, you're facing the wrong way at Manton Jn to head back down towards Peterborough. Sending it via Leicester would mean threading it through a constrained section of track, and either way you're hitting capacity issues at Ely and Haughley Junctions.

Sending it via London you run into capacity issues on the GWML and the GEML, and threading it through North London sounds like a pain. Either way it will be interesting to see it, and hopefully we get some good daytime shots of it.

 

[JKF]

Sending it via London you run into capacity issues on the GWML and the GEML, and threading it through North London sounds like a pain. Either way it will be interesting to see it, and hopefully we get some good daytime shots of it.

There must be some capacity on the GWML as far as Didcot as they used to have all that coal traffic running on the exact route. Perhaps they can quadruple some of the GWML bottle neck east of Swindon and put the expense on the Sizewell tab where it would just be a rounding error on the overall cost?

 

[SomeTrainboy]

Speaking of Immingham, I've seen a noticeable lack of trains into it, specifically iron ore and biomass, anyone know why?

 

[S101]

Speaking of Immingham, I've seen a noticeable lack of trains into it, specifically iron ore and biomass, anyone know why?

Probably all part of ABP Immingham and it's not so secret plan to rid of rail freight entirely.

 

[rick pike]

Speaking of Immingham, I've seen a noticeable lack of trains into it, specifically iron ore and biomass, anyone know why?

IBT, the ore terminal is down for maintenance/issue with the bunkers. Trains are due to restart next week. Don't know what the score is with the biomass.

 

[SomeTrainboy]

Probably all part of ABP Immingham and it's not so secret plan to rid of rail freight entirely.

Oh great(!) they have a railway on their doorstep and choose to squeeze everything on the road, typical!

 

[S101]

Oh great(!) they have a railway on their doorstep and choose to squeeze everything on the road, typical!

That's what happens when warehouses with rail sidings are let to companies with no desire to use rail. That's alongside their own plans for the container terminal with no rail use.

Should also be noted that Network Rail no longer maintains the infrastructure since last month, the start of decline has indeed begun. The whole complex is now just classed as a big private siding complex, essentially.

Yet the government says we all have to be green. Cough.... Lorries.

 

[SomeTrainboy]

That's what happens when warehouses with rail sidings are let to companies with no desire to use rail. That's alongside their own plans for the container terminal with no rail use.

Should also be noted that Network Rail no longer maintains the infrastructure since last month, the start of decline has indeed begun. The whole complex is now just classed as a big private siding complex, essentially.

Yet the government says we all have to be green. Cough.... Lorries.

Welp, fun while it lasted eh?

 

[BorderCollie]

But the new Immingham ro-ro ferry facility isn't a container terminal, it's for unaccompanied trailers to go by Stena ferry to the Netherlands. And it's a relocation of an existing port facility rather than wholly new.

 

[Adrian Barr]

Speaking of Immingham, I've seen a noticeable lack of trains into it, specifically iron ore and biomass, anyone know why?

IBT, the ore terminal is down for maintenance/issue with the bunkers. Trains are due to restart next week. Don't know what the score is with the biomass.

I think the biomass was the same with some sort of planned maintenance shutdown - every few months you get a full week with no Immingham biomass trains and they run from Hull instead (3 per day ran from Hull this week, so less frequent than the Immingham trains normally are).

I don't think there has been any coal, coke, iron ore or biomass this week from Immingham, which suggests a co-ordinated shutdown that would also allow for track maintenance in the terminals and on the docks branch between Humber Road Jn and Immingham West Jn.

Have trains always had to be cut into two before being shunted into Coopers Metals? From aerial photos, it looks like there are 3 sidings at the location?

A comment by David J. Hayes under one of the pics I linked in post #2730 mentions that after splitting the 24 wagons, 7 were placed in one siding and 5 on another at EMR. I think the need to use Queen's Head sidings on the other side of the line arises both from the length of the train (too big to fit into EMR sidings in one go) and the fact that the only run round facility at Handsworth is in Queen's Head sidings. I don't know exactly how the sequence of shunts works but it sounds quite complicated.

Scrap metal out of Handsworth is also scheduled to run this coming week 26th October.

Thursday is Handsworth to Alexandra Dock on that day only

Handsworth to Worcester Fridays 2/10/26 to 11/12/26

A new 6V45 Brierley Hill-Cardiff train has also appeared

I think those WTT schedules towards South Wales from Handsworth and Brierley Hill might have appeared in connection with the upcoming change from DB Cargo to GBRF haulage on the 7Steel (previously Celsa) scrap trains to Cardiff Tidal. From 5th October onwards, GBRF seem to inherit schedules from Cardiff Tidal to Sunderland / Rotherham Masborough / Kingsbury / Saltley / Swindon (plus Burton for the wire rod train). Being WTT schedules, they might include potential traffic sources that don't materialise - at the moment Sunderland and Rotherham are the regular sources of scrap by rail into Tremorfa.