DRS Launches Trans-Pennine Freight With Ultra-Low IDA Wagons
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Modern Railways.
These three paragraphs describe the service.
Direct Rail Services is operating a trial freight from Teesport to Trafford Park using ultra-low IDA wagons meaning that standard high-cube containers can be carried. This is a first for the route.
The first train ran on 3 February, hauled by DRS No 68033 The Poppy. The train runs from the PD Ports terminal at Teesport and will initially operate for 12 weeks. DRS said that if the trial is a success then the flow will become permanent.
The train leaves Teesport at 15.25, running via the East Coast main line to Colton Junction before heading to Castleford, Wakefield Kirkgate, Healey Mills, Mirfield, Huddersfield, Stalybridge and Manchester Piccadilly. It arrives at 00.12. The return departs Trafford Park at 04.30, arriving at 09.07. The trains run five days a week.
This is a classic case of a rail service becoming possible, because some innovative technology was procured.
In this case the innovative technology, which is the IDA ‘twin’ intermodal flats, which are best described in this article in Rail Express, which is entitled Going low with the IDA flats. They seem to have had a bit of a chequered entry into service, but they may be doing better now.
The Anonymous Widower 