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.
The Anonymous Widower 