Kraft Heinz And Freight Innovation
In the UK, we certainly need to get more freight on to the railways.
Recently, KraftHeinz were involved in an experiment. A lot of their product currently comes into the UK in containers, which are then taken by road from the ports by truck.
This report about the experiment was on this page of the Modern Railway’s web site.
KraftHeinz’s distribution centre is in the Orrell district of Wigan, with the Wigan Wallgate to Southport route the closest railway line. The trial involved a container train that was sent from Crewe to the branch on an overnight working, with the notional offloading taking place from the running line close to Gathurst station. Also demonstrated was the feasibility of loco run round in this area. Network Rail signallers helped ensure the success of the trial by facilitating the use of a crossover at Parbold station for the run round (some signal alterations would be likely if this became a regular operation).
This Google Map shows the area.
Note.
- Gathurst station is in the North-West corner of the map.
- The KraftHeinz Distribution Centre is in the South-East corner of the map.
- The Wigan Wallgate and Southport Line runs between the two.
It was all very convenient for some intense night work.
I have some thoughts.
Where’s The Siding?
Years ago a lot of factories and distribution centres like this, would have had a siding.
Many have been sold off and built over, as many companies preferred to use road transport.
Using The Running Line
This was first used in the UK to load timber on to trains in the North of Scotland for transporting to markets in the South.
Surely, the only thing needed is ground strong enough alongside the track to support a container handling machine.
Were JCB Involved?
JCB are innovators and appeared a few days on this blog, in this a post entitled JCB Finds Cheap Way To Run Digger Using Hydrogen.
Although, that post wasn’t about cargo handling, it shows that the company thinks differently and I’m sure they can come up with a pollution-free container-handler to unload containers at night for companies like KraftHeinz.
Conclusion
Surely, if this freight movement were to be used regularly, the signalling changes and perhaps some concrete should be installed.
We need more cargo-handling experiments like this to get more trucks off the road.
‘Super Train’ In Finland Sets New Record: The Equivalent Of 92 Trucks
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on RailFreight.com.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The Finnish railway company VR Transpoint has introduced another heavy weight to the railways. Dubbed the Super Train, it carries a weight of 7,000 tonne, and 80 wagons. Moreover, it is about one kilometre long. According to the company, this sets a new record on Finnish railways.
These are a few points about the service.
- The service runs between Vainikkala and Hamina.
- The route appears to be electrified.
- The super train is hauled by two Vectron locomotives.
- Longer trains are more efficient.
- Long trains regularly run in Russia.
This map shows the border crossing at Vainikkala.
Note.
- The border running South-West and North-East across the map.
- The giant Finnish marshalling yard in the North-West.
- The large Russian marshalling yard in the South-East.
This Google Map shows the Finnish Marshalling yard at Vainikkala.
I estimate that the yard is over a kilometre in length.
Passenger Trains Between Helsinki And St. Petersburg
There is also a passenger service between Helsinki and St. Petersburg, that uses this route called Allegro, that usually runs thrice daily.
The trains are Alstom Pendolinos, specially designed for the route and are detailed in this section called Vehicles in the Allegro Wikipedia entry.
The journey time is just three and a half hours.
If you want to buy tickets, this page on The Man In Seat 61 gives all the details.
Conclusion
It looks like the Finns and the Russians have co-operated well to create a quality passenger and freight link between their two countries.
Calais – Mediterranean Rail Motorway Bids Called
This title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The government has called for expressions of interest to operate a lorry trailer carrying service between the English Channel port of Calais and the Mediterranean port of Sète south of Montpellier. Submissions are required by May 16.
Further details include.
- It is aimed to start the service in 2022.
- Government financial help ight be available.
- In French it is called an autoroute ferroviaire.
- There is also a similar service between Perpignan and Paris.
- I would expect the service saves carbon emissions.
This certainly seems like a good idea.
I do wonder if we will eventually see trains carrying trucks running between Barking and Sete through the Channel Tunnel.
- The loading gauge will probably allow it.
- It would be electrically hauled all the way.
- Other destinations in Europe would be possible.
- It might need less drivers, who would only work in the UK or Europe.
- Would it help with Covid-19 bio-security?
If not Barking, what about to the Freeport being developed at Dagenham by the Thames?
It would
Swift Express Freight Demonstrator To Be Tested
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the first paragraph.
Leasing company Eversholt Rail and Ricardo have teamed up to develop an electric multiple-unit intended to demonstrate a cost-effective and low carbon way of transporting parcels.
Other points include.
- A Class 321 train will be converted.
- The trains have a top speed of 100 mph.
- Each vehicle will handle up to twelve tonnes of freight.
Eversholt are talking to possible operators.
Conclusion
There are various train leasing companies and operators looking at similar concepts.
I’m sure one will create a viable model.
Gulf Of Mexico Train Ferry Fleet Renewal
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette International.
This is the first two paragraphs.
The first of two train ferries ordered for CG Railway’s route across the Gulf of Mexico has been launched by CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co in China.
The CGR joint venture of Genesee & Wyoming and SEACOR Holdings transports 10 000 wagons/year between Mobile in Alabama in the USA and Coatzacoalcos in Mexico.
I was surprised about this article, as between the US and Mexico wasn’t where I would expect to find a train ferry.
But it obviously makes sense as two new ships don’t come cheap.
Some other points from the article.
- The two new ships will increase capacity by forty percent.
- There will be a 44 % reduction of CO2 emissions compared to the all rail route.
- The ships are designed to be pandemic proof.
- The ships take five days for the trip, which is half the time of the all-rail route.
I can see this investment being copied in various places around the world.
The Inland Freeport On The Banks Of The Manchester Ship Canal
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Manchester Evening News.
These are the opening paragraphs.
Businesses on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal could benefit from tax reliefs, a reduction in red tape and increased investment with Freeport status.
Port Salford, an inland port in Eccles which opened in 2016, will be part of the Liverpool City Region’s new Freeport announced in the budget on Wednesday.
Up to 10,000 jobs could be created at the site in Salford where a further 320,000 sq m of employment space is planned alongside a new rail link – but the developer behind the scheme says its success does not depend on its Freeport status.
It looks from this that freeport status is not needed for the development at Port Salford to go ahead.
Eight New Freeports Set To Open In The UK
Today, in his 2021 Budget, Rishi Sunak announced eight new freeports.
This article on the BBC, which is entitled Freeports: What Are They And Where Will They Be?, gives a brief guide to the freeports.
This links link to the nearest I can find to an official web site for each of the freeports.
The Government has said that the freeports will start their operations late this year.
A Class 66 Locomotive At Stratford
I’ve needed a generic photograph of a Class 66 locomotive for some time and one obliged at Stratford.
The sooner these are replaced with a modern more environmentally-friendly locomotive the better.
A Pair Of Class 90 Locomotives Working Through Stratford
I spotted this pair of Class 90 locomotives at Stratford hauling a long but lightly loaded freight train.
Note.
- I was surprised to see the locomotives working as a pair.
- Was it an experiment, testing or driver training?
- The locomotives were still in the Greater Anglian white livery.
- They still had their names.
I was a bit slow to get my camera out.
A Class 93 Locomotive Hauling A Train Between The Port Of Felixstowe And Wentloog
I am looking at this trip in detail, to see how a Class 93 locomotive could change this journey.
Where Is Wentloog?
Wentloog is a Rail Freight Interchange, run by Freightliner, a few miles to the East of Cardiff.
This Google Map shows the interchange.
Note the electrified Great Western Main Line between London and Cardiff giving rail access to freight trains.
Sections Of The Route
The route can be divided into these sections.
- Port of Felixstowe and Trimley – 2.3 miles – 7 minutes – 19.7 mph – Not Electrified
- Trimley and Ipswich – 14 miles – 60 minutes -14 mph – Not Electrified
- Ipswich and Stratford – 64.6 miles – 77 minutes – 50.3 mph – Electrified
- Stratford and Acton Wells Junction – 12.5 miles – 72 minutes – 10.4 mph – Electrified
- Acton Wells Junction and Acton Main Line – 0.7 miles – 3 minutes -14 mph – Possibly Electrified
- Acton Main Line and Wentloog – 134.3 miles – 249 minutes -32.4 mph – Electrified
Note.
- Nearly, all the route is electrified.
- I am not sure if between Acton Wells Junction and Acton Main Line is electrified.
The journey takes nearly eight hours.
These are my thoughts on how the various sections would be handled.
Port of Felixstowe And Trimley
As I stated in Rail Access To The Port Of Felixstowe, I would electrify the short section between the Port of Felixstowe And Trimley. This would do the following.
- Charge the batteries on trains entering the Port, so they could operate in the Port without using diesel.
- Charge batteries on trains leaving the Port, so that they could have a power boost to Ipswich.
- The trains could be accelerated to operating speed using the electrification.
There would also be no use of diesel to the East of Trimley, which I’m sure the residents of Felixstowe would like.
Trimley and Ipswich
This section would be on diesel, with any energy left in the battery used to cut diesel running through Ipswich.
Ipswich And Stratford
Consider
- Ipswich and Stratford is a 100 mph fully-electrified line.
- A passenger train can do the route in an hour.
There must be savings to be made! Especially, if all trains between Ipswich and Liverpool Street are 100 mph electrically-hauled trains.
Stratford and Acton Wells Junction
The North London Line is getting increasingly busy and as it goes through the middle of residential areas, there will be increasing pressure for all trains to be electric, to cut noise and pollution.
In A North London Line With Digital Signalling, I wrote about the benefits of adding digital signalling on the North London Line.
I suspect in a few years time all freight trains using the North London Line will be electrically-hauled and will use digital ERTMS signalling, so that more trains can be squeezed onto the North London Line, so that increasing numbers of freight trains can travel between Felixstowe, London Gateway and Tilbury in the East and Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester, Scotland and other destinations in the North and West.
Locomotives like the Class 93 locomotive will become an increasingly common sight on the line.
Acton Wells Junction and Acton Main Line
This connection between the North London Line and the Great Western Main Line will surely, be electrified, if it has not been done already, so that electric freight trains can go between the two routes.
Acton Main Line and Wentloog
Consider
- Acton Main Line and Wentloog is a fully-electrified line.
- The operating speed is up to 125 mph
- A passenger train can do the route in just under 100 minutes.
There must be savings to be made! Especially, if all trains between London and Cardiff are electrically-hauled trains, capable of upwards of 100 mph.
Conclusion
There would be very worthwhile time and diesel savings, by running the Felixstowe and Wentloog service using a Class 93 locomotive.
How many other services to and from Felixstowe, London Gateway and Tilbury would be improved by being hauled by a Class 93 locomotive?
I suspect, it’s not a small number, that can be counted on your fingers and toes.
The Anonymous Widower 