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Felixstowe freight workings at night time

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Peter0124

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Hi, does anyone know why Felixstowe to Leeds / Doncaster / Wakefield and areas on the ECML run via London and the GEML at night time (Between about 21:00 and 04:00) whereas they use the route via Whittlesea during the day? Is it quicker via London? Is the route via Whittlesea closed at night? Don't really know much about the areas but was wondering why they are routed differently to how they are usually during the day.

Here's an example on RTT:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R03274/2021-07-28/detailed (via Whittlesea)
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H15005/2021-07-28/detailed (via London)

Thanks!
 
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Brissle Girl

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Two thoughts. Less passenger traffic at night means finding paths via London is much easier. Also, is the route closed at night to minimise costs if there are several boxes on that route?
 

dk1

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Two thoughts. Less passenger traffic at night means finding paths via London is much easier. Also, is the route closed at night to minimise costs if there are several boxes on that route?
The Peterborough/Ely/Stowmarket route is open 24/7. There are however several occasions when midweek engineering has taken place particularly on the March route recently following track issues.
 

GB

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The route via Ely is closed every 6 weeks or so for engineering work. Night freight should be back to normal next week unless there is a 2nd week of closures which sometimes happens.
 

Callmo

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As others have mentioned there is engineering works on the normal route (Via Ely) which means we have to take the long route!

Also makes it more troublesome as there are drivers who only sign part of the diversion route compared to normal.

I think it’s back to normal on Friday.
 

Peter0124

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Ahh I see, thank you!

Speaking of that route, would WCML traffic (Trafford Park etc) from Felixstowe also be quicker via Ely and all the way down to Nuneaton or is it better for them to just use London?
 

Class 170101

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The route via Ely is closed every 6 weeks or so for engineering work. Night freight should be back to normal next week unless there is a 2nd week of closures which sometimes happens.

In addition the London route is also closed every 6 weeks - a different week to the cross country route. On those occasions the freight goes cross country
 
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