Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[Adrian Barr]

First run overnight of new Doncaster I Port to PD Stirling Mossend 4S04 . 66708 . Said to be 5 or 6 days a week eventually . Not sure of traffic

Good to see another container train for the Iport... returned as 4E04 11:05 Mossend - Doncaster Iport. 4S04 (23:15 Doncaster Iport - Mossend) is running again tonight (Tue 19/10)

I was wondering if this was a replacement for the Elderslie service, but its actually passing 4E69 19:38 Elderslie - Tees Dock somewhere around Berwick, and appears to be a completely new service.

Another new container service has been running from Doncaster Iport to Tyne Dock at weekends during October (as a sort of fill-in turn using wagon sets not required at the weekend). There has been a 4S43 service on Saturday mornings from Iport to Tyne Dock, returning as 4D44 in the afternoon. I saw this come through Doncaster, conveying mainly plain blue shipping containers or dark green ones labelled "Cleveland Containers."
There has also been a 4S34 running from Doncaster Hexthorpe Yard to Tyne Dock late on Sunday nights (with wagons originating from the Iport), returning on Monday morning from Tyne Dock to Iport as 4D34.

Also at Tyne Dock during October, a container service has been running from Hams Hall on a Saturday evening as 4S47, returning as 4D47 from Tyne Dock to Hams Hall on Sunday mornings. I don't think there have been any intermodal services into Tyne Dock since the days of the Avonmouth - Tyne Dock train which conveyed car parts for Nissan.

South Yorkshire Intermodal

One change due to the new 4S04 service from Iport, is that the 4E21 / 4L21 service from Felixstowe to Iport and return (which used a similar loading slot at the Iport) has switched to Tinsley from 18/10. The 4E21/ 4L21 service has managed to cycle through 4 different terminals this year, starting the year at Doncaster Railport, then moving to Wakefield in March, then to Iport by August and finally Tinsley in October.

Looking at current container traffic levels in South Yorkshire by terminal:

Doncaster Railport

Currently 3 departures per day, GBRF to Felixstowe and London Gateway, plus a Freightliner service to Felixstowe.

For anyone a bit vague about the location of Doncaster Railport vs Doncaster Iport, the Railport is on the Up side of the ECML behind the yards south of the station, not far from the IEP depot but further back from the ECML behind the Network Rail local distribution centre sidings in the "Wood Yard."
In this picture (looking towards Doncaster station from the bridge by the former mail terminal) you can see the container stacks if you zoom in above the rounded roof of the wagon repair shed:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanpadley/34777759561/
Compare the warehousing in that picture with this blast from the past (not sure when it was taken but the Class 47 dates it). Taken from the same bridge, same fence, back when it was all fields. The 30ft containers look like the type used for bulk powders:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_masons_gallery/32236226920/

Doncaster Iport

Located close to St Catherine's junction (and run round loop) on the line from Doncaster to Worksop, with various huge warehouses nearby.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shedonesixnine/49887933866
https://www.flickr.com/photos/109723390@N03/50112889313

There were 7 departures on Tuesday 19/10. The regular DRS Tesco train arrives from Daventry and departs for Tees Dock early evening. GBRF had 3 departures for Felixstowe, 1 for Southampton Western Docks, 1 for Elderslie (usually TThO) and the new 4S04 service to Mossend PD Stirling.

Rotherham Masborough

3 departures per day. GBRF have 2 trains to Felixstowe, plus there is the DB service to Southampton Western Docks.

Tinsley

3 daily departures. The 4E21 / 4L21 Felixstowe service has switched to Tinsley this week, but this seems to have replaced the early morning 4E28 / 4L28 service. GB have 2 trains to Felixstowe and Freightliner also have a Felixstowe service.

The loading slot at Felixstowe which was being used for 4E28 to Tinsley has changed this week to a 4E29 to Doncaster Iport (the return service from Iport still running as 4L28). This means Iport and Tinsley have effectively swapped a pair of trains, with 4E21/4L21 swapping from Iport to Tinsley and 4E28 /4L28 swapping from Tinsley to Iport.

 

[D821]

I posted this in another thread a couple of weeks ago, probably worth me mentioning it here, too.

"
Originally a short-term solution to avoid congestion at southern English ports, the China Xpress is now a permanent fixture. To complement its growth, DKT is now running a five-days-a-week rail link from Liverpool to Freightliner’s Birmingham Terminal.

It will carry 26 x 60ft wagons enabling DKT Allseas to move up to 76 x 20ft or 26 x 40ft and 26 x 20ft containers of freight per day."

New Port of Liverpool rail link as China demand soars - Liverpool Business News

In February DKT Allseas launched a temporary sea route between China and Liverpool, which proved so popular it has increased sailings and has now added an inland freight rail link. Tony […]

lbndaily.co.uk

 

[Tirov]

The Tyne Dock trains are for DK Allseas with containers from China for the midlands. Looks like a semi regular service because there is a ship still unloading at Tyne and others are due.
Same company haver started a service into Seaforth where one ship is still unloading and another anchored at Lynas waiting to get access to a terminal.
Trains are running to Lawley Street and Hams Hall pretty well on a daily basis.

 

[Pit_buzzer]

These latest swap arounds seem to have brought an end to the Interesting routing of the Tinsley to Felixstowe service over the North Doncaster avoiding line with a run round at Hatfield and Stainforth. It had a long layover at the rail port which wasn't accessible from the Hexthorpe route into the down side yards

 

[Freightmaster]

These latest swap arounds seem to have brought an end to the Interesting routing of the Tinsley to Felixstowe service over the North Doncaster avoiding line with a run round at Hatfield and Stainforth. It had a long layover at the rail port which wasn't accessible from the Hexthorpe route into the down side yards

The routing via Stainforth you are referring to is still used by the Saturday Freightliner working:

4D09 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/H03773/2021-10-16/detailed

(the weekday train stopped running that way several months ago)




MARK

 

[muddythefish]

Good to see another container train for the Iport... returned as 4E04 11:05 Mossend - Doncaster Iport. 4S04 (23:15 Doncaster Iport - Mossend) is running again tonight (Tue 19/10)

I was wondering if this was a replacement for the Elderslie service, but its actually passing 4E69 19:38 Elderslie - Tees Dock somewhere around Berwick, and appears to be a completely new service.

Another new container service has been running from Doncaster Iport to Tyne Dock at weekends during October (as a sort of fill-in turn using wagon sets not required at the weekend). There has been a 4S43 service on Saturday mornings from Iport to Tyne Dock, returning as 4D44 in the afternoon. I saw this come through Doncaster, conveying mainly plain blue shipping containers or dark green ones labelled "Cleveland Containers."
There has also been a 4S34 running from Doncaster Hexthorpe Yard to Tyne Dock late on Sunday nights (with wagons originating from the Iport), returning on Monday morning from Tyne Dock to Iport as 4D34.

Also at Tyne Dock during October, a container service has been running from Hams Hall on a Saturday evening as 4S47, returning as 4D47 from Tyne Dock to Hams Hall on Sunday mornings. I don't think there have been any intermodal services into Tyne Dock since the days of the Avonmouth - Tyne Dock train which conveyed car parts for Nissan.

South Yorkshire Intermodal

One change due to the new 4S04 service from Iport, is that the 4E21 / 4L21 service from Felixstowe to Iport and return (which used a similar loading slot at the Iport) has switched to Tinsley from 18/10. The 4E21/ 4L21 service has managed to cycle through 4 different terminals this year, starting the year at Doncaster Railport, then moving to Wakefield in March, then to Iport by August and finally Tinsley in October.

Looking at current container traffic levels in South Yorkshire by terminal:

Doncaster Railport

Currently 3 departures per day, GBRF to Felixstowe and London Gateway, plus a Freightliner service to Felixstowe.

For anyone a bit vague about the location of Doncaster Railport vs Doncaster Iport, the Railport is on the Up side of the ECML behind the yards south of the station, not far from the IEP depot but further back from the ECML behind the Network Rail local distribution centre sidings in the "Wood Yard."
In this picture (looking towards Doncaster station from the bridge by the former mail terminal) you can see the container stacks if you zoom in above the rounded roof of the wagon repair shed:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanpadley/34777759561/
Compare the warehousing in that picture with this blast from the past (not sure when it was taken but the Class 47 dates it). Taken from the same bridge, same fence, back when it was all fields. The 30ft containers look like the type used for bulk powders:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_masons_gallery/32236226920/

Doncaster Iport

Located close to St Catherine's junction (and run round loop) on the line from Doncaster to Worksop, with various huge warehouses nearby.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shedonesixnine/49887933866
https://www.flickr.com/photos/109723390@N03/50112889313

There were 7 departures on Tuesday 19/10. The regular DRS Tesco train arrives from Daventry and departs for Tees Dock early evening. GBRF had 3 departures for Felixstowe, 1 for Southampton Western Docks, 1 for Elderslie (usually TThO) and the new 4S04 service to Mossend PD Stirling.

Rotherham Masborough

3 departures per day. GBRF have 2 trains to Felixstowe, plus there is the DB service to Southampton Western Docks.

Tinsley

3 daily departures. The 4E21 / 4L21 Felixstowe service has switched to Tinsley this week, but this seems to have replaced the early morning 4E28 / 4L28 service. GB have 2 trains to Felixstowe and Freightliner also have a Felixstowe service.

The loading slot at Felixstowe which was being used for 4E28 to Tinsley has changed this week to a 4E29 to Doncaster Iport (the return service from Iport still running as 4L28). This means Iport and Tinsley have effectively swapped a pair of trains, with 4E21/4L21 swapping from Iport to Tinsley and 4E28 /4L28 swapping from Tinsley to Iport.

Thanks for this - a fascinating and comprehensive insights into the intermodal workings in south Yorkshire

It's striking that there are so many terminals in such a small area but relatively fewer in Lancashire / north west and the Midlands and none at all in the south west

Northamptonshire is another county where there has been vast (and continuing, see the huge developments around J15 at Northampton on the M1) expansion of logistics warehouses in recent years. Corby in particular has become a major hub and I would have though there must be a business case for another terminal in the east of the county in addition to the Daventry terminal in the west

 

[kitodew]

Good to see another container train for the Iport... returned as 4E04 11:05 Mossend - Doncaster Iport. 4S04 (23:15 Doncaster Iport - Mossend) is running again tonight (Tue 19/10)

I was wondering if this was a replacement for the Elderslie service, but its actually passing 4E69 19:38 Elderslie - Tees Dock somewhere around Berwick, and appears to be a completely new service.

Another new container service has been running from Doncaster Iport to Tyne Dock at weekends during October (as a sort of fill-in turn using wagon sets not required at the weekend). There has been a 4S43 service on Saturday mornings from Iport to Tyne Dock, returning as 4D44 in the afternoon. I saw this come through Doncaster, conveying mainly plain blue shipping containers or dark green ones labelled "Cleveland Containers."
There has also been a 4S34 running from Doncaster Hexthorpe Yard to Tyne Dock late on Sunday nights (with wagons originating from the Iport), returning on Monday morning from Tyne Dock to Iport as 4D34.

Also at Tyne Dock during October, a container service has been running from Hams Hall on a Saturday evening as 4S47, returning as 4D47 from Tyne Dock to Hams Hall on Sunday mornings. I don't think there have been any intermodal services into Tyne Dock since the days of the Avonmouth - Tyne Dock train which conveyed car parts for Nissan.

South Yorkshire Intermodal

One change due to the new 4S04 service from Iport, is that the 4E21 / 4L21 service from Felixstowe to Iport and return (which used a similar loading slot at the Iport) has switched to Tinsley from 18/10. The 4E21/ 4L21 service has managed to cycle through 4 different terminals this year, starting the year at Doncaster Railport, then moving to Wakefield in March, then to Iport by August and finally Tinsley in October.

Looking at current container traffic levels in South Yorkshire by terminal:

Doncaster Railport

Currently 3 departures per day, GBRF to Felixstowe and London Gateway, plus a Freightliner service to Felixstowe.

For anyone a bit vague about the location of Doncaster Railport vs Doncaster Iport, the Railport is on the Up side of the ECML behind the yards south of the station, not far from the IEP depot but further back from the ECML behind the Network Rail local distribution centre sidings in the "Wood Yard."
In this picture (looking towards Doncaster station from the bridge by the former mail terminal) you can see the container stacks if you zoom in above the rounded roof of the wagon repair shed:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanpadley/34777759561/
Compare the warehousing in that picture with this blast from the past (not sure when it was taken but the Class 47 dates it). Taken from the same bridge, same fence, back when it was all fields. The 30ft containers look like the type used for bulk powders:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_masons_gallery/32236226920/

Doncaster Iport

Located close to St Catherine's junction (and run round loop) on the line from Doncaster to Worksop, with various huge warehouses nearby.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shedonesixnine/49887933866
https://www.flickr.com/photos/109723390@N03/50112889313

There were 7 departures on Tuesday 19/10. The regular DRS Tesco train arrives from Daventry and departs for Tees Dock early evening. GBRF had 3 departures for Felixstowe, 1 for Southampton Western Docks, 1 for Elderslie (usually TThO) and the new 4S04 service to Mossend PD Stirling.

Rotherham Masborough

3 departures per day. GBRF have 2 trains to Felixstowe, plus there is the DB service to Southampton Western Docks.

Tinsley

3 daily departures. The 4E21 / 4L21 Felixstowe service has switched to Tinsley this week, but this seems to have replaced the early morning 4E28 / 4L28 service. GB have 2 trains to Felixstowe and Freightliner also have a Felixstowe service.

The loading slot at Felixstowe which was being used for 4E28 to Tinsley has changed this week to a 4E29 to Doncaster Iport (the return service from Iport still running as 4L28). This means Iport and Tinsley have effectively swapped a pair of trains, with 4E21/4L21 swapping from Iport to Tinsley and 4E28 /4L28 swapping from Tinsley to Iport.

Rumours of a container service from Doncaster Iport - Immingham starting soon. Potentially a trial running this Friday (22/10/21) anyone able to confirm any truth in this?

 

[ExRes]

Rumours of a container service from Doncaster Iport - Immingham starting soon. Potentially a trial running this Friday (22/10/21) anyone able to confirm any truth in this?

A number of stories floating around, along with the one that a pair of 20s are working up from Derby RTC this afternoon under the DCR flag


** Confirmed as 20205 & 20007 on 1430 0Z20 Derby RTC to Immingham SS

 

[Pit_buzzer]

The routing via Stainforth you are referring to is still used by the Saturday Freightliner working:

4D09 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/H03773/2021-10-16/detailed

(the weekday train stopped running that way several months ago)




MARK

Thanks for the update, I'd not realised it had been missing for a while, I must have just bumped into the Saturday one by chance and thought it was still happening more often

 

[kitodew]

A number of stories floating around, along with the one that a pair of 20s are working up from Derby RTC this afternoon under the DCR flag


** Confirmed as 20205 & 20007 on 1430 0Z20 Derby RTC to Immingham SS

Thanks do you know if DCR will be the operator then going forward? Strange to see a pair of old loco's on a new service like this. Heard its going to be a regular thing on weekdays.

 

[Bob figgis]

Thanks do you know if DCR will be the operator then going forward? Strange to see a pair of old loco's on a new service like this. Heard its going to be a regular thing on weekdays.

Some publicity bumph here.

Launching the Humber Express - Eco2Loco

Giving more choice to customers amidst current supply chain pressures – FIRST intermodal rail service from Port of Immingham can move 80 containers a day The first intermodal train service directly from the Port of Immingham, helping to ease the pressures of the current HGV driver shortage by...

eco2loco.com

 

[Oxfordblues]

Some publicity bumph here.

Launching the Humber Express - Eco2Loco

Giving more choice to customers amidst current supply chain pressures – FIRST intermodal rail service from Port of Immingham can move 80 containers a day The first intermodal train service directly from the Port of Immingham, helping to ease the pressures of the current HGV driver shortage by...

eco2loco.com

Interesting that the new Immingham/Hull-Doncaster shuttle is being promoted not just for local traffic but also offering forward connections to terminals beyond Doncaster including possibly Tees Dock, Elderslie/Mossend and Daventry (and from the latter perhaps onward to Wentloog and Tilbury?)

Thirty years after the untimely demise of the Speedlink wagonload network we seem to be witnessing the beginnings of a system for moving individual containers by transfer between trains at the Doncaster and Daventry hubs. We've been told repeatedly that wagonload freight is hopelessly uneconomic because of the huge costs of marshalling yards, shunting and tripping. This seems to have the potential to offer an alternative.

 

[waverley47]

Also in the news today is the completion of the sale of the former Ravenstruther coal loading point near Carstairs.

The site had been leased for a year to undertake investigations by the owners of nearby Cowburn Quarry (one home of the distinctive pink Scottish ballast) but final sale should allow for shipments of ballast to various VQs across the network. There was a Colas 56 that visited the terminal in July for asset inspection and track circuit detection and no issues were found, so looks good to go.

No paths in as yet, but as I understand the hope is for paths to be in towards the end of the year, and shipments to Carlisle and Millerhill VQs to begin early 2022.

 

[stantheman]

4E05 stopped short at Ferryhill tonight . Not sure why ? Traffic for Teesside ?

 

[ExRes]

Thanks do you know if DCR will be the operator then going forward? Strange to see a pair of old loco's on a new service like this. Heard its going to be a regular thing on weekdays.

It seems from info elsewhere that the actual service operator will be Victa Railfreight

 

[stantheman]

Also in the news today is the completion of the sale of the former Ravenstruther coal loading point near Carstairs.

The site had been leased for a year to undertake investigations by the owners of nearby Cowburn Quarry (one home of the distinctive pink Scottish ballast) but final sale should allow for shipments of ballast to various VQs across the network. There was a Colas 56 that visited the terminal in July for asset inspection and track circuit detection and no issues were found, so looks good to go.

No paths in as yet, but as I understand the hope is for paths to be in towards the end of the year, and shipments to Carlisle and Millerhill VQs to begin early 2022.

Is this new traffic or will it result in loss of traffic like 6M51 and 6S50

 

[waverley47]

Is this new traffic or will it result in loss of traffic like 6M51 and 6S50

Should be a mix of new traffic and shuffling around existing flows. Previously the granite would be shipped by road to Carlisle and onwards by rail from there, but this will mean bulk flows from the quarry itself to wherever is needed.

Unfortunately paths and plans are still being finalised, so can't give anything more definitive at this point. We shall have to wait and see until the trains start and traffic settles down before we know for certain.

 

[stantheman]

4E05 stopped short at Ferryhill tonight . Not sure why ? Traffic for Teesside ?

Has returned to Mossend early today

 

[ExRes]

Rumours of a container service from Doncaster Iport - Immingham starting soon. Potentially a trial running this Friday (22/10/21) anyone able to confirm any truth in this?

Obviously nothing runs until the fat lady turns up to drive it, schedules have appeared for

Friday 1017 4Z13 Immingham Dfds Term Victa to Doncaster Iport Victa and 1448 4Z14 return

Friday 2214 4Z16 Immingham to Iport and Saturday 0243 4Z17 return

 

[kitodew]

It seems from info elsewhere that the actual service operator will be Victa Railfreight

Obviously nothing runs until the fat lady turns up to drive it, schedules have appeared for

Friday 1017 4Z13 Immingham Dfds Term Victa to Doncaster Iport Victa and 1448 4Z14 return

Friday 2214 4Z16 Immingham to Iport and Saturday 0243 4Z17 return

Thanks noticed some container flat wagons have appeared around Immingham reception sidings, looks to be a goer from what I have heard.

 

[Bigman]

The new Immingham - Donny has just been mentioned on the BBC Look North bulletin.

 

[kitodew]

Yes containers are now loaded and a large VIP and media presence has assembled at Nordic Terminal, Immingham

Link below for the video of first intermodal train out of Immingham:

Humber Express rail freight service launches taking 80 HGVs off the road a day

Humber Express' arrival comes at the perfect time to help ease current logistics woes and meet Christmas demand

www.business-live.co.uk

Noted the service was terminated short at Barnetby to be returned back to Immingham later this afternoon

 

[AndrewE]

Also in the news today is the completion of the sale of the former Ravenstruther coal loading point near Carstairs.

The site had been leased for a year to undertake investigations by the owners of nearby Cowburn Quarry (one home of the distinctive pink Scottish ballast) but final sale should allow for shipments of ballast to various VQs across the network.

I think you mean Cloburn. https://www.cloburn.co.uk/

 

[childwallblues]

There seems to be extra freightliners into Seaforth CT at the moment. I noted a Lawley Street to Seaforth CT passing Liverpool South Parkway at about 2230 last night returned through Edge Lane Junction at about 0430.
Today on RTT there are two additional container trains from Hams Hall. No doubt thses are to clear the extra boxes coming in to Seaforth as a result of the Felixstowe situation.

 

[ExRes]

Yes containers are now loaded and a large VIP and media presence has assembled at Nordic Terminal, Immingham

Link below for the video of first intermodal train out of Immingham:

Humber Express rail freight service launches taking 80 HGVs off the road a day

Humber Express' arrival comes at the perfect time to help ease current logistics woes and meet Christmas demand

www.business-live.co.uk

Noted the service was terminated short at Barnetby to be returned back to Immingham later this afternoon

Varying reports as to whether a) one of the 20s ran into problems b) the run was for press purposes only and always due to terminate at Barnetby & c) both of those reasons

Looks as though the wagons were moved this morning on 0529 4Z20 Immingham Dfds to Barnetby Down Rec Sdgs with the 20s continuing as 0621 0Z20 back to Derby RTC

At least one press report suggests that the service will be extended to possibly 36 wagons but nothing yet as to who will be supplying the traction

 

[kitodew]

Varying reports as to whether a) one of the 20s ran into problems b) the run was for press purposes only and always due to terminate at Barnetby & c) both of those reasons

Looks as though the wagons were moved this morning on 0529 4Z20 Immingham Dfds to Barnetby Down Rec Sdgs with the 20s continuing as 0621 0Z20 back to Derby RTC

At least one press report suggests that the service will be extended to possibly 36 wagons but nothing yet as to who will be supplying the traction

Definitely a publicity stunt, the containers were empty. The 20s also were not trusted by Victa rail to run all the way to Doncaster hence being stopped at Barnetby. Wagons probably moved out the way to allow the Tinsley- Nordic steel train into Nordic to be discharged this afternoon on the same line.
Plans are in place to expand the service however I guess this will determine on a number of different factors.

 

[Tirov]

There seems to be extra freightliners into Seaforth CT at the moment. I noted a Lawley Street to Seaforth CT passing Liverpool South Parkway at about 2230 last night returned through Edge Lane Junction at about 0430.
Today on RTT there are two additional container trains from Hams Hall. No doubt thses are to clear the extra boxes coming in to Seaforth as a result of the Felixstowe situation.

The 2 services you refer to didn't run. They have been in the system for a while and are GBRF paths. The new business for Allseas is handled by Freightliner and was supposed to go to Lawley Street but Hams Hall have taken a slice of the traffic. Each location had a train from Seaforth on Saturday. None today. Seaforth now has up to 4 container trains a day. As above + DB to Mossend 3 times a week and GBRF to East Midland 5/6 times a week. Adhoc steel trains maybe up to 2 per week. Lots of biomass via GBRF and normally a daily scrap steel run by DB.

 

[jfowkes]

I'm very surprised that someone considers Doncaster-Immingham an economically viable service, it's an extremely short route in railfreight terms.

Not that I mind, I'm all for rail freight even if it's uneconomical, because the environment and all that.

 

[JKF]

Does anyone know how regularly the branch line to Portbury Docks is used these days? I saw a few photos of workings using it in August but nothing in September so far (AFAIK). Were these regular flows or just temporary ones?
Many thanks in advance

Nothing has been down the line this month other than RHTT and a test train. The service was conveying stone brought down from Scotland via coastal shipping for use on HS2, no idea if this had ended or just a lull - does anyone have any further info? I’m hoping it’s not just another failed Portbury service - there’s been a few that were short lived - cars and gypsum at least.

Edited to add: last record of it noted on the SWRG yahoo page is Sep 7th, with 66763.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I'm very surprised that someone considers Doncaster-Immingham an economically viable service, it's an extremely short route in railfreight terms.

Not that I mind, I'm all for rail freight even if it's uneconomical, because the environment and all that.

It's being promoted as a sort of "trip" working with containers being transferred at I-Port to trains destined Mossend, Tees Dock and Daventry (and from there potentially forward to Wentloog and Tilbury). It's the intermodal equivalent of the former Speedlink trip into Belmont Yard.