Channel Tunnel freight traffic

[daccer]

I am lookin for some information on what is still running through the tunnel at the moment in terms of freight flows including frequency and also usual haulage. I see there is a regular steel freight from Doncaster (origin and destination?). Also has anything run from the new terminal at Swindon yet or from Tinsley and what is planned for Telford. Also does the flow to Coventry in cargowaggons still run (I think it was bottled water) and is there any wagonload traffic left or is it just trainloads only - did EWS (DBS) introduce any of their proposed new flows such as Duisburg-Manchester. It seems folly that the tunnel isnt bursting with freight trains considering the state of the M20 in terms of congestion and the number of trucks using the freight shuttles.

 

[37402]

Steel traffic you mentioned (if it still runs) is from Scunthorpe to Ebange.

Wagonload steel traffic (again if it still runs) also goes from Llanwern to somewhere in France.

The bottled water still runs (6A51 ex Coventry) gets tripped to Wembley and then goes down in one of the enterprise trains to and through the tunnel.

Don't think owt has run from Swindon or Tinsley through the tunnel, wasn't aware there were plans for anything from Tinsley going that way. The Tinsley flow goes to Immingham by rail and then by boat to Scandinavia for finishing.

Oh and everything through the tunnel is a 92. Up to Dollands Moor it may be a 66, 67 or 92 with a loco change at Dollands if required.

 

[33056]

Most Channel Tunnel traffic has reverted to running on nights again, the steel traffic from Scunthorpe to Ebange does still run but I am unsure of the current timings as I think it has changed recently. There was a trip running most days from Genk in Belgium (I think) to Swindon, but that has not yet restarted after the Christmas shut down; might well do when Honda re-start production.

Regarding other traffic, don't forget the car parts (Ford Blue train) between Silla (Spain) and Dagenham and there is also containers from Rheinhausen to Trafford Park, Norfolk Line traffic to Daventry, sugar from Purfleet to Italy and a Bari to Trafford Park flow (though this is very hit and miss). There are also a few odd bits of wagon load traffic to various places.

Regarding traction, 37402 is correct about 66s and 92s to Dollands Moor, I have never personally seen or heard of a class 67 working down there (trains are usually too heavy), but 67s do sometimes do the smaller trips in this country.

 

[The_Rail_WAy]

Freight most certainly should be increased through thu chunel, especially during night hours. It sems non-sensicle that roads, airways and ferryways are absolutely jammed with continental freight traffic whilst a rather useful and expensive continental link - that can save money, emmisions and time is being under-utilised.

 

[D841]

Freight most certainly should be increased through thu chunel, especially during night hours. It sems non-sensicle that roads, airways and ferryways are absolutely jammed with continental freight traffic whilst a rather useful and expensive continental link - that can save money, emmisions and time is being under-utilised.

It's being underused in no small part because the rates charged to the rail freight business for running trains through it are totally uncompetitive. I was hoping that the Germans buying EWS might lead to an increase in traffic; let's see if it does.