Container trains cancelled

[Far north 37]

I see over the next few weeks there is to be a lot of services cancelled due to the boxes not being allowed to leave the far east due to the coronavirus felixstowe seems to be the worst hit so far.

 

[30907]

Presumably (also?) because of a considerable drop in production caused by the virus?

 

[Amlag]

Presumably (also?) because of a considerable drop in production caused by the virus?

You can be sure that TOCs (and FOCS) will be 'reviewing' their timetable services with the aim of having a 'shovel ready' contingency reduced timetable plan for implementing if required in the coming weeks and months.

 

[Dr Hoo]

I see over the next few weeks there is to be a lot of services cancelled due to the boxes not being allowed to leave the far east due to the coronavirus felixstowe seems to be the worst hit so far.

Can you clarify where you have “seen” this news? Obviously there will simply be fewer boxes to move for a while with the virus issues on top of the Chinese New Year holiday. There have been a lot of ‘blanked’ ship movements that will take months to work their way through the rotations.

 

[berwicksfinest]

I can assure you that my 4E45 and indeed 4L45 from europort have been pretty well loaded both ways all week

 

[hwl]

Can you clarify where you have “seen” this news? Obviously there will simply be fewer boxes to move for a while with the virus issues on top of the Chinese New Year holiday. There have been a lot of ‘blanked’ ship movements that will take months to work their way through the rotations.

Exactly, it all stems from a lot less goods to transport - this is is effectively just rolling on from Chinese New Year holiday period production drop off which see a quiet 2-3 weeks which will turn into a quiet 2-3months

 

[LAX54]

Can you clarify where you have “seen” this news? Obviously there will simply be fewer boxes to move for a while with the virus issues on top of the Chinese New Year holiday. There have been a lot of ‘blanked’ ship movements that will take months to work their way through the rotations.

5 into the Port and 5 out, cancelled UFN.

 

[DarloRich]

I see over the next few weeks there is to be a lot of services cancelled due to the boxes not being allowed to leave the far east due to the coronavirus felixstowe seems to be the worst hit so far.

have you a link to any evidence of this?

 

[GB]

I can assure you that my 4E45 and indeed 4L45 from europort have been pretty well loaded both ways all week

True, but your London Gateway services have taken a hit. As to the original post, it is true. Freightliner 4 or 5 services and GB have cancelled 1 service with potentially another one to come. Part of it is due to the knock on effect of Chinese New Year, part of it is also due to Chinese ports and industry shutdowns.

 

[Snow1964]

Its after effect of Chinese New Year in January

There is a 6-8 week lag from container leaving China, and if you think about it, a ship and its crew won't have been in contact with anyone for a while by time it arrives here. I suspect the effect of industry shutdowns are more likely to affect UK from Mid March onwards

However I have heard there is a glut of empty containers in China, and some local shortages of empty ones elsewhere

 

[Far north 37]

Its on freightmaster a lot of terminals services been been cut back.

 

[berwicksfinest]

True, but your London Gateway services have taken a hit. As to the original post, it is true. Freightliner 4 or 5 services and GB have cancelled 1 service with potentially another one to come. Part of it is due to the knock on effect of Chinese New Year, part of it is also due to Chinese ports and industry shutdowns.

Even pre COVID 19 only ran with half a dozen boxes on

 

[GB]

They still ran tho, now they are not running at all. I don’t know about DB but I have been at the PoF for 12 years and have never known FL to cancel trains because of Chinese New Year and GB never has. There was a stakeholder meeting at the port last week where they clearly have better projections and forecasts than joe public.

 

[Bald Rick]

It’s a genuine issue. My friend who is in the maritime container industry says that it is in absolute crisis - rates for shifting boxes around the world have dropped significantly for some routes, especially to China. Some ships are clocking ports, others may be tied up soon with no work. This could be very serious for the FOCs.

 

[cockneyviking]

4l08/4e08 Wakefield to gateway and return cancelled for the next 2 months due to no ships coming from China due to quarantine

 

[Far north 37]

have you a link to any evidence of this?

People in the industry have clarified this further down the post it wasn't a made up statement.