Scotland Loading Gauge Improvements

[Legolash2o]

I was kindly given the latest gauge certificates, which shows a lot of new W10 & W12, and some W9 in Scotland. There's also a few restrictions removed elsewhere in the country.

Thought I would share the latest map (bit's in green)

W10 Gauge



W12



W9

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Well the PWI presentations in Glasgow in April showed Scotland absolute determination to get more freight on rail. So this is a logical step.

 

[Legolash2o]

It's great that Scotland are delivering on what they said.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It's great that Scotland are delivering on what they said.

Ab-so-lute-ly

 

[najaB]

Is there a definite plan now for the Longannet site? I noticed that it's included for W9 clearance.

 

[zwk500]

Out of interest, are these areas cleared on RT3973 forms or similar but not in the Sectional Appendix? Just wondering what 'gauge certificates' are, as in my experience certificates are issued for specific trains.

 

[Legolash2o]

The Gauging Certificates (or Certification of Gauging Compatibility) are created from assessments that determine the maximum loading gauge for a route. They include the ELR, junctions, mileages, any restrictions and the reason (i.e. signal, bridge or tunnel).

The Freight Access Coordinators then use the certificates with some complex magic to determine maximum heights per wagon in the RT3973 CON forms.

Eventually Gauging Certificates go into NESA after some time.

 

[zwk500]

The Gauging Certificates (or Certification of Gauging Compatibility) are created from assessments that determine the maximum loading gauge for a route. They include the ELR, junctions, mileages, any restrictions and the reason (i.e. signal, bridge or tunnel).

The Freight Access Coordinators then use the certificates, with some complex magic to determine maximum heights per wagon in the RT3973 CON forms.

Eventually Gauging Certificates go into NESA after some time.

Ah right, now I'm with you. It's a bit of the process I didn't have exposure to when I worked with gauging. Expect some of those restrictions to disappear slowly before the proper clearances go into NESA.

 

[Legolash2o]

With the latest W10 & W12 forms, the speed restrictions at Dean (between Southampton and Salisbury) have now been removed.

Then there's some areas on the Great Western Main Line towards Bristol and then near Swansea.

Lastly, there's some gauge improvements around Liverpool, Sheffield and a few other places.

 

[Western Sunset]

Providing the container is loaded onto the correct wagon...

 

[Wynd]

Great to see this. CAn we get Denbur/Hutceon street next please. Get Inverurie, Elgin, Peterhead and Fraserburgh freight on the network.

 

[InOban]

Am I right that these maps are basically NR updating their asset register, so to speak. Much of the enhanced clearances are a byproduct of the egip electrification. Have there been any recent interventions purely to enable better freight access?

 

[Legolash2o]

Am I right that these maps are basically NR updating their asset register, so to speak. Much of the enhanced clearances are a byproduct of the egip electrification. Have there been any recent interventions purely to enable better freight access?

The maps are something I maintain.

I'm not sure if they've done freight specific interventions but I suspect you're right about the byproduct of the egip electrication. It also looked like they are using different simulation technique when looking at the certificates themselves. If I remember correctly, there was talk of using more probabilistic gauging which is less conservative with clearances than absolute.

 

[zwk500]

The maps are something I maintain.

I'm not sure if they've done freight specific interventions but I suspect you're right about the byproduct of the egip electrication. It also looked like they are using different simulation technique when looking at the certificates themselves. If I remember correctly, there was talk of using more probabilistic gauging which is less conservative with clearances than absolute.

It's a combination of factors - not the least that recent enhancements will mean the data is now much closer to present and therefore has less 'creep' added (as data gets older, essentially the margin of error gets wider).