Freight Through The Channel Tunnel

[RichmondCommu]

G'day,

I'm interested to know how much freight travels through the tunnel on a daily / weekly basis. I'm aware that there is a service carrying bottled water, a steel flow originating from South Wales and of course the new service running via HS1 to Poland but that's about it. Out of interest do Transfesa still run a train and does the Ford train still run to Dagenham?

I've recently read that DBS plan to move some of their class 92's to Bulgaria which makes one wonder how much scope there is for running additional services through the tunnel.

Thanks in advance,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[Freightmaster]

Out of interest do Transfesa still run a train and does the Ford train still run to Dagenham?

Those two are one and the same!

Only running twice a week at present though, due to seasonal lack of demand.

Other flows include block intermodal trains from Germany to Trafford Park (DBS)
and Italy to Daventry (Europorte) / Hams Hall (DBS).

Last but not least there is the daily steel train from Scunthorpe to Ebange
in northern France, which is notable in being the only 92-hauled train on
the ECML.



MARK

 

[RichmondCommu]

Those two are one and the same!

Only running twice a week at present though, due to seasonal lack of demand.

Other flows include block intermodal trains from Germany to Trafford Park (DBS)
and Italy to Daventry (Europorte) / Hams Hall (DBS).

Last but not least there is the daily steel train from Scunthorpe to Ebange
in northern France, which is notable in being the only 92-hauled train on
the ECML.



MARK

Thanks for your reply. Given the amount of fresh produce that is imported from Spain and Portugal its a pity that there are not more Transfesa services running under the Channel. I remember seeing Transfesa wagons at a distribution depot on the Southern Region in the 1980's but alas I can't remember where!

 

[ash39]

Where does that 92 service join the ecml? Didn't realise there were wires to Scunthorpe!

 

[DarloRich]

Where does that 92 service join the ecml? Didn't realise there were wires to Scunthorpe!

I think they might change the loco somewhere like doncaster where the wires run out LOL

 

[ash39]

Didn't think of that, doh!
When does it run? Never seen a 92,really want to. I work about 10 miles from Donny too.

 

[Southernrover]

The transfesa depot was adjacent to Paddock Wood Station, rail access was from the Maidstone West line.

 

[Freightmaster]

Didn't think of that, doh!
When does it run? Never seen a 92,really want to. I work about 10 miles from Donny too.

It's booked to arrive at Doncaster (Belmont yard) at 18:47;
but its schedule includes a 35 minute stop at Babworth loop,
just north of Retford, so it could arrive a bit earlier.

MARK

 

[ash39]

Great, might pop and see this at some point now the nights are getting longer.
Thanks Mark

 

[Phil6219]

G'day,
I've recently read that DBS plan to move some of their class 92's to Bulgaria which makes one wonder how much scope there is for running additional services through the tunnel.

Oh god I hope not, well unless it means more freight over here & of course (and more importantly) if it means that they put more 92s back into service and not rotting away like their 60s...

As Mark said the 4M22 - 4O85 (my favourite service) originates in Germany and runs to Dollands Moor where it then heads up to the EWS terminal at Trafford Park.

Incidentally, I had a package arrive at work one Thursday from DBS themselves that had come over from a German Manufacturer, oh how my colleagues were thrilled when I told them what loco had brought it over - I think they may have been sarcastic when they asked if I knew the drivers name too...

Phil

 

[NY Yankee]

The channel tunnel has 3 tubes, correct? Does the freight use the third tube?

 

[Nym]

The channel tunnel has 3 tubes, correct? Does the freight use the third tube?

No, the central one is used for service vehicles.

 

[ainsworth74]

The channel tunnel has 3 tubes, correct? Does the freight use the third tube?

It has two rail bores and one central bore (which is significantly smaller) for service vehicles and to evacuate passengers from the railway tunnels (apart from a small section in the middle where there is a crossover between the two rail tunnels). Freight and passenger workings share the same tunnels and that's not an issue as the channel tunnel is nowhere near capacity yet.

 

[Freightmaster]

Some more info/diagrams can be found here:

http://www.eurotunnelgroup.com/uk/the-channel-tunnel/infrastructure/

MARK