Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[JKF]

Saw some workers and on track plant clearing portbury branch on the weekend, anything planned on the line?

Don.

There is currently the weekly booked container service going into the dock, runs through early on a Saturday afternoon, light loco goes back to Stoke Gifford then comes to pick up the empties very early on a Monday for the return to London Gateway. Carrying imported wine which goes to a big depot in Avonmouth, presumably by road.

Tracksy was showing the line blocked early on Thursday (one bit marked as ‘TREE’ which presumably was the blockage). The weekly RHTT on weds picked up 40 mins delay, possibly encountering this blockage?

Realtime Trains | 3S59 0911 Hereford to Swindon Transfer | 02/11/2022

Real-time train running information for 3S59 0911 departure from Hereford to Swindon Transfer on 02/11/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Line was cleared by 7am on Thursday when the monthly NR test train came down (2xColas 37s). RHTT has been down this morning, a variation on the usual run to include the line, presumably to pick up what was missed on weds.

 

[Western 52]

The BBC news had a story lunchtime today that some mothballed coal power stations are on standby for reopening. Do these still have viable rail infrastructure?

 

[8A Rail]

The BBC news had a story lunchtime today that some mothballed coal power stations are on standby for reopening. Do these still have viable rail infrastructure?

Did they actually state which mothballed Power Stations they were referring to?

 

[Western 52]

Did they actually state which mothballed Power Stations they were referring to?

No, it's just a statement at the end of an article on BBC news about the new energy saving scheme. Sorry can't do a link on my phone but the story is still up on the BBC news site.

 

[Nottingham59]

Did they actually state which mothballed Power Stations they were referring to?

I think it's likely to refer to Drax (the coal-fired part), West Burton A, and Ratcliffe on Soar which have been asked not to close this year as they were scheduled to. The coal pile at Ratcliffe has been growing again after being almost completely run down, and it's all delivered by rail.

Closure of coal power station set to be delayed to prevent UK blackouts

Under deal, German owner of Nottinghamshire station would be paid a fee to pause decommissioning

www.theguardian.com

 

[Donny_m]

There is currently the weekly booked container service going into the dock, runs through early on a Saturday afternoon

Interesting thanks I had missed that one. Can’t see it for today so perhaps the cancelled strikes have affected it, I can see it ran last Saturday.

 

[JKF]

Interesting thanks I had missed that one. Can’t see it for today so perhaps the cancelled strikes have affected it, I can see it ran last Saturday.

It doesn’t seem to run every week, maybe 2 out of 3, and did run during one of the earlier strikes. It also did the return trip on a Tuesday when we had the bank holiday for the Queen’s funeral. First run was on 23rd July (discussed on page 28 of this thread).

The service had previously run to Avonmouth, it’s possible that it is just a temporary arrangement - there seems to be a lot of work going on around Avonmouth at the moment with demolition of old buildings and some of the more recent coal handling infrastructure, and might have been moved out of the way of that. This is pure speculation though.

 

[Donny_m]

Still some serious work going on on the portbury line near Ashton gate, seems to be a Sunday thing now. Scissor platform full of workers going up and down the line and dozens of contractor cars parked up in the area.

It’s hard not to get excited when a freight line near you that’s constantly seems to be close to death shows some sign of life. Obviously could be Portishead related but it’s hard to believe that considering how long they’ve been going on about it now.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Does anyone know when the Arpley Sidings to Donnington Rail Freight Terminal flow will end because I was told month ago that they were moving closer to home?

 

[Freightmaster]

...DB are soon to start operating a new Tytherington to Quainton flow (for HS2) shortly.

update: this flow started running this week (top and tail on the Chiltern line)





MARK

 

[stantheman]

Does anyone have any information on a couple of Anglo Scottish flows which have not run for a while -The Tees to Dalzell steel and the Wembley to Irvine clay?

 

[marty56110]

The Tees (ex Scunthorpe) to Dalzell runs normally once per week. It should be running Thursday this week, it can run on twice a week if the demand requires.

 

[Donny_m]

update: this flow started running this week (top and tail on the Chiltern line)





MARK

Has this affected the ‘new’ Bristol east - tytherington - appelford flow as that seems to have vanished again this week.

 

[Freightmaster]

Has this affected the ‘new’ Bristol east - tytherington - appelford flow as that seems to have vanished again this week.

Still running:

Realtime Trains | 6Z22 1406 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings | 09/11/2022

Real-time train running information for 6Z22 1406 departure from Tytherington to Appleford Sidings on 09/11/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

(the empties are recessing overnight at Appleford this week, rather than Bristol East depot)




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Does anyone have any information on a couple of Anglo Scottish flows which have not run for a while -The Tees to Dalzell steel and the Wembley to Irvine clay?

Both running today! (Wednesday November 16th)






MARK

 

[JKF]

Has this affected the ‘new’ Bristol east - tytherington - appelford flow as that seems to have vanished again this week.

On a similar Bristol note, I don’t think I’ve spotted any of the stone trains that were running out of the former freightliner depot west of Parson St for a few months, though haven’t been stalking out RTT every day. Are they still running at all?

There’s a new path to Portbury Automotive in the timetable for later today, currently a ‘Q’ runs as required path, from Southampton M.C.T.. This is timed into Portbury on the same path as the London Gateway service that started a couple of months ago, so offering an alternative starting point for this train. Will be interesting to see if this runs, I would assume it’s containerised wine still for the depot in Avonmouth.

Realtime Trains | 4V34 1115 Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh | 19/11/2022

Real-time train running information for 4V34 1115 departure from Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh on 19/11/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[66701GBRF]

I am hearing rumours that the STVA (Ford) traffic is soon to be back with GBRf.

 

[Donny_m]

On a similar Bristol note, I don’t think I’ve spotted any of the stone trains that were running out of the former freightliner depot west of Parson St for a few months, though haven’t been stalking out RTT every day. Are they still running at all?

There’s a new path to Portbury Automotive in the timetable for later today, currently a ‘Q’ runs as required path, from Southampton M.C.T.. This is timed into Portbury on the same path as the London Gateway service that started a couple of months ago, so offering an alternative starting point for this train. Will be interesting to see if this runs, I would assume it’s containerised wine still for the depot in Avonmouth.

Realtime Trains | 4V34 1115 Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh | 19/11/2022

Real-time train running information for 4V34 1115 departure from Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh on 19/11/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Parson st traffic moved to Avonmouth last year.

Think that portbury path has always been there since the car train days.

 

[JKF]

Parson st traffic moved to Avonmouth last year.

Think that portbury path has always been there since the car train days.

No, it’s definitely a new path, and mirrors part of the London Gateway train so would presumably just be an alternative start point for the same type of service. It didn’t run anyway, and this past weekend (26/11) the London Gateway service ran (with 66516)

 

[JKF]

There’s a new path to Portbury Automotive in the timetable for later today, currently a ‘Q’ runs as required path, from Southampton M.C.T.. This is timed into Portbury on the same path as the London Gateway service that started a couple of months ago, so offering an alternative starting point for this train. Will be interesting to see if this runs, I would assume it’s containerised wine still for the depot in Avonmouth.

Realtime Trains | 4V34 1115 Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh | 19/11/2022

Real-time train running information for 4V34 1115 departure from Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh on 19/11/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This ran for the first time today, hot on the heels of Duchess of Sutherland! :

Realtime Trains | 4V34 1115 Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh | 10/12/2022

Real-time train running information for 4V34 1115 departure from Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh on 10/12/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

66570 providing the traction. Quite a few empty flats at the front.

I observed that there were mostly Hapag Lloyd orange shipping containers making up the load. The previous services from London Gateway had mostly MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Co.) yellow boxes.

 

[Donny_m]

This ran for the first time today, hot on the heels of Duchess of Sutherland! :

Realtime Trains | 4V34 1115 Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh | 10/12/2022

Real-time train running information for 4V34 1115 departure from Southampton M.C.T. to Portbury Automotive Fhh on 10/12/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

66570 providing the traction. Quite a few empty flats at the front.

I observed that there were mostly Hapag Lloyd orange shipping containers making up the load. The previous services from London Gateway had mostly MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Co.) yellow boxes.

Ah yeh saw her pass while fishing in keynsham did notice quite empty.

 

[ExRes]

0915 4Z21 Shirebrook Davis to Redcar Mineral Terminal running today with 16 JNAs, presumably the 2nd part of the Land Recovery order but hauled by GBRf rather than Colas

 

[JKF]

There’s an aggregates train booked out of Bristol Freightliner terminal on Sunday as an STP working, first one for a while if it runs (I was told the service running not so long ago conveying stone from Flax Bourton quarry had moved to Avonmouth). Going to Port Talbot.

Realtime Trains | 6Z81 1011 Bristol Freightliner Trml to Port Talbot Grange Sdg Fhh | 08/01/2023

Real-time train running information for 6Z81 1011 departure from Bristol Freightliner Trml to Port Talbot Grange Sdg Fhh on 08/01/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There‘s a light engine move booked in earlier in the morning, suggesting the stock is already there, if I get a chance I’ll drop by this weekend to see what is about if anything. There was a rake of container flats there when I passed a few weeks ago which I think have been there a while, it’s also possible that these are being retrieved and the working has been wrongly attributed to aggregates.

 

[Freightmaster]

There’s an aggregates train booked out of Bristol Freightliner terminal on Sunday as an STP working, first one for a while if it runs (I was told the service running not so long ago conveying stone from Flax Bourton quarry had moved to Avonmouth). Going to Port Talbot.

Realtime Trains | 6Z81 1011 Bristol Freightliner Trml to Port Talbot Grange Sdg Fhh | 08/01/2023

Real-time train running information for 6Z81 1011 departure from Bristol Freightliner Trml to Port Talbot Grange Sdg Fhh on 08/01/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There‘s a light engine move booked in earlier in the morning, suggesting the stock is already there, if I get a chance I’ll drop by this weekend to see what is about if anything. There was a rake of container flats there when I passed a few weeks ago which I think have been there a while, it’s also possible that these are being retrieved and the working has been wrongly attributed to aggregates.

With a timing load of just 600 tonnes, I'd say it will be the flats being moved rather than a loaded stone train.





MARK

 

[Donny_m]

With a timing load of just 600 tonnes, I'd say it will be the flats being moved rather than a loaded stone train.





MARK

It was a rake of chop shop VTG hoppers usually based at east usk. It arrived around a week ago and left today.

Wasn’t loaded up while there as there’s no loading area any more it’s full of the flatbeds that inter-modal lorries tow. I’m almost certain it was left there due to the strikes.

 

[Freightmaster]

I’m almost certain it was left there due to the strikes.

That makes sense!



MARK

 

[Oxfordblues]

I notice a train of aggregates this evening from Tunstead to the old British Leyland sidings at Leyland. Is this a new flow I wonder? Perhaps Freightmaster can enlighten us. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R00317/2023-01-09/detailed

 

[55002]

I notice a train of aggregates this evening from Tunstead to the old British Leyland sidings at Leyland. Is this a new flow I wonder? Perhaps Freightmaster can enlighten us. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R00317/2023-01-09/detailed

I saw that on The Angel of Crewe’s live YouTube stream from Acton Bridge

 

[Freightmaster]

I notice a train of aggregates this evening from Tunstead to the old British Leyland sidings at Leyland. Is this a new flow I wonder? Perhaps Freightmaster can enlighten us...

The customer is Hurt Plant Hire, which is located on the Lancashire Business Park.

Here is a Google map view of their location, with the sidings clearly visible on the right:

Hurt Plant Hire · Sandham House, Lancashire Enterprise Business Park, Redrose Drive, Leyland PR26 6TJ

★★★★☆ · Plant and machinery hire

goo.gl

MARK

 

[Oxfordblues]

Thanks Mark. I remember we used to get a few Leyland truck chassis out of there in my days at Speedlink.

 

[pharrc20]

The customer is Hurt Plant Hire, which is located on the Lancashire Business Park.







Here is a Google map view of their location, with the sidings clearly visible on the right:

Hurt Plant Hire · Sandham House, Lancashire Enterprise Business Park, Redrose Drive, Leyland PR26 6TJ

★★★★☆ · Plant and machinery hire

goo.gl

i

MARK



Thanks Mark,

Thanks for the info Mark. Is it a one-off flow for now? Completely missed it coming through Northwich last night and this morning doh!
Cheers Paul