Top and tail Freightliner

[superjohn]

Earlier this afternoon I noticed a Freightliner train travelling from Ipswich to Felixstowe with a loco at both ends. I can’t say I have ever seen this before locally. Does anybody know why this might have occurred? It certainly can’t be down to the load, there were very few containers on the train. Is there a problem with the run round facilities at the port?

ps. All legitimately observed from Sainsbury’s car park while on a shop.

 

[D6975]

Doesn't one of the unloading terminals have a traverser at the end?

 

[furnessvale]

A convenient way to move a light engine along the branch and one I have advocated for ALL light engine moves there to free as many paths as possible for revenue trains.

 

[Class 170101]

A convenient way to move a light engine along the branch and one I have advocated for ALL light engine moves there to free as many paths as possible for revenue trains.

There was one earlier today running as a leading pair. It also helps if the driver is at the wrong end of the line.

 

[GB]

A convenient way to move a light engine along the branch and one I have advocated for ALL light engine moves there to free as many paths as possible for revenue trains.

A path for a light engine doesn’t necessarily equal a path for an actual service. Likewise capacity on the branch doesn’t mean there is capacity within the port.

 

[furnessvale]

A path for a light engine doesn’t necessarily equal a path for an actual service. Likewise capacity on the branch doesn’t mean there is capacity within the port.

I know that a light engine path does not equal a loaded train path, just as I accept a passenger path does not equal a freight path. My point is that by eliminating ALL LE paths, or even passenger paths for that matter (luxury coaches anyone?) the whole timetable could be rejigged to provide more revenue freight paths overall.

 

[GB]

But what is the point in more freight paths if those freights cannot be serviced in the terminal or conflict with other areas of the network? You might get some extra paths on the branch, is there capacity across the GE or via Ely?

 

[furnessvale]

But what is the point in more freight paths if those freights cannot be serviced in the terminal or conflict with other areas of the network? You might get some extra paths on the branch, is there capacity across the GE or via Ely?

So the ambitions of Felixstowe to host more freight by rail are pointless, and the CURRENT restriction on more trains is not the single track branch but further afield?