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?