Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[pmb]

This is a thread devoted to rail freight flows in the UK.
Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be a thread on here devoted solely to rail freight flows. Apologies if there is, but I can't find one! The idea of this thread is that members can give information on new flows, if a flow has ceased, if a FOC's contract for a flow has been renewed, etc. Where possible, details of service frequency would also be useful, and also a link to the page where the info was found.

Please can I just ask that mere speculation is avoided! Several times I've read optimistic speculation regarding new rail freight business which has come to nothing . I think this thread will be much more useful if facts or well - informed speculation only are posted. Thanks!

For a starter, this post appeared on GBRf's fb page on 27th September:
''We were delighted to commence a new service for #AggregateIndustriesUK this week, delivering track ballast from the Isle of Grain for London Underground's Integrated Track Team.

The materials had been serviced by road for over a year.''

From the photos it appears the first train was hauled by 66707.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/GBRailfreight

 

[pmb]

Sorry, my wording wasn't very clear in the original post. What I should have said was, 'Surprisingly, I can't find a thread on here about rail freight flows, so I have decided to create one'.

 

[Photohunter71]

This is the topic I will contribute a good deal to. I'm a big advocate for the transportation of freight by rail. And freight flows are definitely worthy of discussion. With the obvious decimation of Ravenscraig and the coal industry, not to mention the shut down of coal fired power stations, there's other industries that used rail that are now long gone, there is a massively marked decline in freight flows here in Scotland. The only ones that are noted that pass by my flat are the Cement flows to Viewpark and Craiginches , Tyne Dock to Mossend, The Blyth to Fort William RTA's (Rio Tinto Alcan), The Torness nuke flasks, and if you want to classify it as a form of freight, a handful of engineers trains. It is a definite decline from even 10 years ago.

 

[xotGD]

Can anyone advise what the traffic is to/from the sidings at Leeds Whitehall? Looks to be some sort of compost or biomass but I don't know whether it is loaded or unloaded and when or where it runs. Thanks!

 

[Freightmaster]

Can anyone advise what the traffic is to/from the sidings at Leeds Whitehall? Looks to be some sort of compost or biomass but I don't know whether it is loaded or unloaded and when or where it runs. Thanks!

GBRf operate one or two trains a week, conveying spoil to Roxby, near Scunthorpe.

Because of pathing constraints, it runs during the night in both directions; until recently
it normally ran once a week on a Sunday night/Monday morning, but last week it ran
twice (on Tuesday and Thursday) instead of the Monday run.



MARK

 

[xotGD]

GBRf operate one or two trains a week, conveying spoil to Roxby, near Scunthorpe.

Because of pathing constraints, it runs during the night in both directions; until recently
it normally ran once a week on a Sunday night/Monday morning, but last week it ran
twice (on Tuesday and Thursday) instead of the Monday run.



MARK

Thanks Mark. I've seen wagons in the sidings a couple of times but never a loco.

 

[pmb]

Thanks all for getting this thread off to a good start. I look forward to many more interesting posts.

On 1st November, a post appeared on GBRf's fb page:
''GBRf are delighted to announce a seven-year deal with Hanson UK for rail freight services from Ketton cement works in Rutland and Ribblesdale cement works in Lancashire, to terminals at London King’s Cross, Avonmouth and Mossend.

This new deal will see GBRf operate on average nine trains a week transporting cement in tank wagons to support major construction projects in London as well as the development of Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station.''

I think this a contract renewal, as GBRf have been operating trains from Ketton and Ribblesdale for a while already.
https://www.facebook.com/GBRailfreight

 

[furnessvale]

Thanks all for getting this thread off to a good start. I look forward to many more interesting posts.

On 1st November, a post appeared on GBRf's fb page:

I think this a contract renewal, as GBRf have been operating trains from Ketton and Ribblesdale for a while already.
https://www.facebook.com/GBRailfreight

Yes, contract renewal. However, GBRf seem to have a habit of pushing for a bit more traffic to sweeten deals.

 

[Photohunter71]

Thanks all for getting this thread off to a good start. I look forward to many more interesting posts.

On 1st November, a post appeared on GBRf's fb page:
''GBRf are delighted to announce a seven-year deal with Hanson UK for rail freight services from Ketton cement works in Rutland and Ribblesdale cement works in Lancashire, to terminals at London King’s Cross, Avonmouth and Mossend.

This new deal will see GBRf operate on average nine trains a week transporting cement in tank wagons to support major construction projects in London as well as the development of Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station.''

I think this a contract renewal, as GBRf have been operating trains from Ketton and Ribblesdale for a while already.
https://www.facebook.com/GBRailfreight

Just a pity they won't be coming from Mossend via Edinburgh (around the south suburban loop,,it would for interesting viewing -yes past my flat!)

 

[pmb]

On 14th November GBRf posted the following interesting post on their fb page:
''GBRf are delighted to announce the recent purchase of two new transportable fuel tanks to be used on our Gypsum flows out of Middlesbrough and Intermodal services at Birch Coppice. Fabricated by Fuel Proof Ltd, in Lancaster, the fuel tanks are due to be delivered to Birch Coppice on the 14th November and Middlesbrough in late December.

The new fuel tanks offer environmental benefits, helping reduce CO2 emissions by removing 630 HGV fuel deliveries off the road each year.''

While not a case of new business for rail, this is still important as a case of cutting down on road freight.

 

[Donny_m]

Keen to know what will become of Bristol Intermodal terminal now as most container traffic has moved to Avonmouth. There were rumours of it becoming a stone terminal but nothing yet. I walk the dog next to it so I’ve a good knowledge of what goes on there and would love to see some new activity.

 

[Meerkat]

page:
''GBRf are delighted to announce a seven-year deal with Hanson UK for rail freight services from Ketton cement works in Rutland and Ribblesdale cement works in Lancashire, to terminals at London King’s Cross, Avonmouth and Mossend.

This new deal will see GBRf operate on average nine trains a week transporting cement in tank wagons to support major construction projects in London as well as the development of Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station.''

Avonmouth is still a fair lorry trip from Hinkley Point, is there nowhere nearer or do they have a barge jetty at the construction site?

 

[furnessvale]

Avonmouth is still a fair lorry trip from Hinkley Point, is there nowhere nearer or do they have a barge jetty at the construction site?

I think the answer is yes. Even Mendip stone is going to Avonmouth for a barge trip to Hinckley Point rather than using local roads.

 

[PeterC]

I think the answer is yes. Even Mendip stone is going to Avonmouth for a barge trip to Hinckley Point rather than using local roads.

There is a jetty visible when you switch to satelite view on Google Maps.

 

[pmb]

I was recently wondering what was happening about the Highland Spring Blackford terminal in Perthshire, as recently it has all seemed to go quiet. So it was good to find an article from The Scotsman (online), by John Yellowlees, from 21st November with an update.
According to the article the terminal will be operated by JG Russell. Network Rail has agreed a new south-facing connection to enter and leave the facility for which planning permission was granted in 2018.
Each train will be equivalent in size to 22 HGVs. Two daily train paths on Monday to Friday and a weekly Saturday train path have been secured.
A fully electric rubber-tyre crane will lift and position containers on the train, and Highland Spring is exploring opportunities to bring raw materials to site by rail.
Luddon Construction will soon begin construction, which is expected to take 12-14 months with the facility being operational in early 2021.
The full article can be read by following this link: https://www.scotsman.com/business/h...est-in-rail-freight-john-yellowlees-1-5049205

 

[PHILIPE]

I was recently wondering what was happening about the Highland Spring Blackford terminal in Perthshire, as recently it has all seemed to go quiet. So it was good to find an article from The Scotsman (online), by John Yellowlees, from 21st November with an update.
According to the article the terminal will be operated by JG Russell. Network Rail has agreed a new south-facing connection to enter and leave the facility for which planning permission was granted in 2018.
Each train will be equivalent in size to 22 HGVs. Two daily train paths on Monday to Friday and a weekly Saturday train path have been secured.
A fully electric rubber-tyre crane will lift and position containers on the train, and Highland Spring is exploring opportunities to bring raw materials to site by rail.
Luddon Construction will soon begin construction, which is expected to take 12-14 months with the facility being operational in early 2021.
The full article can be read by following this link: https://www.scotsman.com/business/h...est-in-rail-freight-john-yellowlees-1-5049205

There is also a thread about Blackford on the Forum from which you might obtain some info:-

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/highland-spring-siding-blackford.152264/

 

[pmb]

There is also a thread about Blackford on the Forum from which you might obtain some info:-

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/highland-spring-siding-blackford.152264/

Sorry, I hadn't seen that! It looks useful.

 

[pmb]

Does anyone have any information about Tytherington Quarry? There have certainly been some loaded trains from there, mainly to Appleford Sidings earlier this year. Many of them were operated by FL (according to RTT - the origin and destination were listed as Freightliner, e.g. Appleford Sidings Fhh). But any activity seems to have been spasmodic, and I don't think there's been any for a while.
Perhaps the whole project has fizzled out?

 

[PHILIPE]

Does anyone have any information about Tytherington Quarry? There have certainly been some loaded trains from there, mainly to Appleford Sidings earlier this year. Many of them were operated by FL (according to RTT - the origin and destination were listed as Freightliner, e.g. Appleford Sidings Fhh). But any activity seems to have been spasmodic, and I don't think there's been any for a while.
Perhaps the whole project has fizzled out?

Here is the Tytherington thread:-

https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ght-line-to-reopen.121210/page-4#post-4186043

 

[Freightmaster]

Does anyone have any information about Tytherington Quarry? ...any activity seems to have been spasmodic, and I don't think there's been any for a while.

Trains are still running regularly - in fact there was one this morning:

6A15 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H04327/2019-11-22/detailed




MARK

 

[AndrewE]

Trains are still running regularly - in fact there was one this morning:

6A15 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H04327/2019-11-22/detailed
MARK

Regularly? Looks like it runs once a week (if that)

 

[Freightmaster]

Regularly? Looks like it runs once a week (if that)

Once a week definitely counts as "regularly" in my book when it comes to as required stone traffic;
especially considering some flows only run once or twice a month!



MARK

 

[AndrewE]

Once a week definitely counts as "regularly" in my book when it comes to as required stone traffic;
especially considering some flows only run once or twice a month!
MARK

It might be considered regular if it runs reliably, but an occasional appearance of one train isn't really indicative of a lively or thriving branch. There were a couple of other paths on RTT, but I couldn't see that any of them had ever run.

 

[JeffH16]

It might be considered regular if it runs reliably, but an occasional appearance of one train isn't really indicative of a lively or thriving branch. There were a couple of other paths on RTT, but I couldn't see that any of them had ever run.

For the past few months it's been running around 3-4 times a week

 

[1874]

All gone quiet on the Hanson cement flows from penyffordd, padeswood works. Was reported that when new silos were granted by the council, traffic would be by rail to the likes of Bristol, London and Scotland. Concerns were raised about more lorry moves. Only aware of 1 trail run by GBRF. Paths are still in the system but never used.

 

[AndrewE]

For the past few months it's been running around 3-4 times a week

That's good to hear, I must have looked at an unrepresentative week. Maybe they are currently running down stocks (at the destination) ahead of the Christmas break.

All gone quiet on the Hanson cement flows from penyffordd, padeswood works. Was reported that when new silos were granted by the council, traffic would be by rail to the likes of Bristol, London and Scotland. Concerns were raised about more lorry moves. Only aware of 1 trial run by GBRF. Paths are still in the system but never used.

A cynic would suspect that they only gave those assurances to get the planning permission.
Padeswood is interesting because when I went on a visit there about 10 years ago they were using a significant amount of shredded car tyre in their fuel. It supplies carbon fuel (from the rubber and carbon black in the tyres) and iron from the tyre wires. That saves them buying iron compounds to add into their feedstock, as iron is a good way of taking the Chromium VI ( a serious skin exposure/sensitiser problem) out of the cement.

 

[pmb]

A cynic would suspect that they only gave those assurances to get the planning permission.

Absolutely. The numerous rail freight terminals in the Midlands, under development, under construction or already built, spring to mind. Not to say that the above quote represents them all, but one can't help thinking of the Castle Donnington development...

 

[muddythefish]

A cynic would suspect that they only gave those assurances to get the planning permission.
t.

It wouldn't be the first time. The railway press should do some digging around on this - I'm sure there's a story. Local councils who gave permission ought to be investigated too.

 

[furnessvale]

Absolutely. The numerous rail freight terminals in the Midlands, under development, under construction or already built, spring to mind. Not to say that the above quote represents them all, but one can't help thinking of the Castle Donnington development...

Would that be the Castle Donnington operated by Maritime who already operate three rail terminals on behalf of DBC, who have invested in five container handling cranes to operate the new terminal and have located their rail division headquarters there?

Castle Donnington is not quite ready for use yet, but I believe when it is, it will see plenty of rail traffic. On the other hand, the siding installed for M & S near there has seen nothing BUT it will become the headshunt for the new Maritime terminal so not entirely wasted.

 

[pmb]

Would that be the Castle Donnington operated by Maritime who already operate three rail terminals on behalf of DBC, who have invested in five container handling cranes to operate the new terminal and have located their rail division headquarters there?

Castle Donnington is not quite ready for use yet, but I believe when it is, it will see plenty of rail traffic. On the other hand, the siding installed for M & S near there has seen nothing BUT it will become the headshunt for the new Maritime terminal so not entirely wasted.

I didn't realise that Maritime operate the Castle Donnington site, in that case it should have a bright future. When I wrote my post I was actually thinking of the M&S siding.