Ford Vehicle Train

[Lawman]

Folks,
I have observed on many occasions various Ford type vehicles,vans&cars being hauled on the wcml near wishaw/motherwell.Where do these vehicles get deposited and is this run a regular occurance.Thanks

 

[davelew99]

I've seen a similar train regularly outside the JLR plant on merseyside. I believe these ones go to liverpool docks for export, i don't know about the one you saw.

 

[the sniper]

They come into Southampton I believe and are sent North from there.

 

[Oracle]

I think Transits go by rail as well as road out of the Western Docks...there is a loading platfom on the siding off the Western Docks branch. The vans and chassis-cabs are driven in convoys from Swaythling, followed by a minibis that then takes the drivers back. It would appear that imported Focus cars come in by jumbo transporter ship and they then get stored in a huge compond the docks side of Millbrook station. We see Land-Rovers come down the M271 to the docks on transporters as well as Hondas ex-Swindon and MINIS ex-Cowlet (sorry BMW Oxford). for export.

 

[Lrd]

I think Transits go by rail as well as road out of the Western Docks...there is a loading platfom on the siding off the Western Docks branch. The vans and chassis-cabs are driven in convoys from Swaythling, followed by a minibis that then takes the drivers back. It would appear that imported Focus cars come in by jumbo transporter ship and they then get stored in a huge compond the docks side of Millbrook station. We see Land-Rovers come down the M271 to the docks on transporters as well as Hondas ex-Swindon and MINIS ex-Cowlet (sorry BMW Oxford). for export.

The car's come into the Western Dock's as well, off the ships and there are, at least, two huge multi-story car parks and a bit of a ground level storage.

I like looking at all the shiny new car's as I walk through to get my boat.

There is a couple of out-of-use ramp's to load the trains with cars/vans etc at Millbrook station (other side of fence/docks side) which I thought were Motorail, but was unsure, more likely used to be the main hub for transporting cars, before the new facilities were built at the Western docks and before the car factory (no idea of name) was demolished a few years ago.

 

[Oracle]

I thought that the ramps were being used at Millbrook. The AC-Delco components factory that became a GM subsidiary last had a rail connection in 1970 at the latest.

 

[onionjoe76]

Folks,
I have observed on many occasions various Ford type vehicles,vans&cars being hauled on the wcml near wishaw/motherwell.Where do these vehicles get deposited and is this run a regular occurance.Thanks

There is a large area with all sorts of vehicles located right next to the former EWS freight loading terminal at Eurocentral. I suspect that they get loaded for rail transportation there or they arrive there from down south and get unloaded and stored there.

 

[michael769]

There is a large area with all sorts of vehicles located right next to the former EWS freight loading terminal at Eurocentral. I suspect that they get loaded for rail transportation there or they arrive there from down south and get unloaded and stored there.

This is run by STVA they organise the transportation of vehicles all across Europe. Prior to the re-opening of A<->B there is a depot/rail-transfer station at Bathgate and transporter trains were a regular feature on the Bathgate line. From memory it was not unusual to see at least a couple of trains every day - and not just Fords were carried. If you look closely you will see the STVA logo on many of the carriages.

The Mossend depot/transfer-station is primarily Ford.

I suspect that the majority of new cars in Scotland pass through their hands at some point.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think Transits go by rail as well as road out of the Western Docks...

I always thought it odd that the Swaythling plant was never directly rail connected, it would have been relatively straightforward to provide a couple of sidings back in the days before the M27 was built.

 

[Oracle]

I agree,. In the past Transits used to be driven up the road to Eastleigh yards and loaded there.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

6M93 Soton Bevois Park to Willesden connecting into a wide range of WCML Speedlink services used to be virtually a block train of Transits from Swaythling.

 

[Lrd]

I thought that the ramps were being used at Millbrook. The AC-Delco components factory that became a GM subsidiary last had a rail connection in 1970 at the latest.

There is a sign saying something along the lines of "Not too be used" on the entrance to the ramp, will check when I go past there next. There is a lot of weeds in between the rails and the ramps are starting to rust a fair bit. I used to be at Millbrook station everyday and have never seen them being used, only ever seen some coaching stock and loco having a visit.