Quinn Glass Ellesmere Port

[Tirov]

Some weeks ago RAIL Magazine told its readers that Quinn had been granted planning permission for 5 sidings alongside their glass factory to be built to receive train loads of used glass for recycling, sand directly from Norfolk instead of via Manisty Wharf and to have the ability to send out the finished product via the railway.
Any ideas whether this is correct?

 

[dysonsphere]

Would be nice if its correct

 

[The Planner]

Appears to be, seen a signalling diagram that shows the alterations.

 

[Wavertreelad]

There is more background information in the Network Rail Freight Market Study draft consultation: Liverpol City Region comments.

"QUINN GLASS:
Most silica sand in the UK is transported by lorry and bulk tanker vessels. The only silica sand operation in the UK today with a dedicated rail link is Middleton Towers, Kings Lynn in Norfolk. This quarry is operated by Sibelco UK Ltd which has a number of sites across the UK. From the Middleton Towers site in Kings Lynn, freight trains are used to transport the sand to glass manufacturers in Northern England, including Quinn Glass at Ellesmere Port.
Sibelco UK Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sibelco Group, a privately owned Belgian group with silica sand interests worldwide. Freight trains taking sand for glass making from Sibelco UK Ltd’s Middleton Towers quarry in Kings Lynn in Norfolk to Quinn Glass in Ellesmere Port operate around 3 times a week or on an as required basis. These initially operated from Ellesmere Port Docks but moved to the new rail freight terminal at the Quinn Glass (600 jobs) site from late 2011. The trains are operated by Freightliner Heavy Haul. It is anticipated that Quinn Glass will actively pursue rail freight opportunities for additional raw materials deliveries (40,000 tonnes Limestone) and bulk consumer liquids imported from abroad for their filling hall.

Initial trial runs of container trains carrying finished glass products for Quinn Glass were operated from 3MG Widnes to Glasgow but were not deemed to be successful and as a result it was decided not to proceed with a regular service. Quinn Glass is prepared to consider rail freight for finished glass products in the future. The destinations will depend on customer contracts, locations and volumes. However there are gauge constraints for container trains on the local rail line which they would be interested in trying to resolve to unlock further potential for rail freight in the future."

Full consultation is available at

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/market%20studies/freight%20market%20study%20consultation%20%20responses/l/liverpool%20city%20region.pdf

There is already some comment on this consultation on Merseytravel opening new stations thread and possibility on the Halton Curve thread.

 

[dysonsphere]

Thinks Churnet Valley Railway in Staffs which survived for years on sand traffic. Are the quarrys still open as the tracks are still there to Stoke Junchion, but the last part is very overgrown but as far as I know is usable to Endon from the quarry end.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Thinks Churnet Valley Railway in Staffs which survived for years on sand traffic. Are the quarrys still open as the tracks are still there to Stoke Junchion, but the last part is very overgrown but as far as I know is usable to Endon from the quarry end.

Closed in 2011 (was refused planning permission for an extension).
It was under the same ownership as the Middleton Towers quarry (Sibelco).

The sand from Oakamoor went by rail to Pilkingtons at St Helens, and the whole route end up covered in sand leaking from the wagons, especially where loaded trains stood for a time eg at Stoke.
The rail traffic finished in 1988, but how Pilkingtons gets its sand now I don't know.

 

[Ploughman]

Maybe time to reopen sand operations on the beach at Southport.
May need a bit of new track to get there though.

 

[FQ]

Not a hope. I am not hauling trains into Ellesmere Port.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

There is more background information in the Network Rail Freight Market Study draft consultation: Liverpol City Region comments.




Full consultation is available at

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/market%20studies/freight%20market%20study%20consultation%20%20responses/l/liverpool%20city%20region.pdf

There is already some comment on this consultation on Merseytravel opening new stations thread and possibility on the Halton Curve thread.

Quinn Glass is on the site of the old Ince power station and would be served by the old UKF freight branch which leaves the main line northwards between Helsby and Ince & Elton. This has been OOU for many years and did not reopen in 2011.

Deliveries are to a site served by a branch which veers north off the electrified line just west of Ellesmere Port station. This is about 4 or 5 miles from the factory.