There is a pioneering scheme at the Port of Southampton, encouraging intermodal logistics customers to switch their loads from road to rail. That scheme should be rolled out across the UK. Rail minister Huw Merriman wants that if the ruling Conservative Party is returned to power in the forthcoming general election. That was a key […]
Author: Simon Walton
Rail beats uLEZ for London’s express logistics
It’s rare for rail freight to make the mainstream pages of the newspapers, at least for the right reasons. However, the hot topic of express logistics has captured the imagination of the British press, with pioneering Varamis Rail hitting the headlines. The coverage comes hot on the tracks of their new service, connecting Birmingham and […]
Manifesto for Rail to be keynote at George Bradshaw Address
Prioritise getting freight off roads and onto rail is the unsurprising manifesto pledge from Rail Partners, the influential policy and lobby group, representing operators in the freight and passenger sectors in the UK rail industry. They have published a new document, “Manifesto for Rail – A five-point plan to create a thriving railway”. The manifesto […]
Europe’s most remote railway viaduct about to undergo major upgrade
A temporary closure of Scotland’s West Highland Line will enable essential upgrades to an iconic bridge. Network Rail, the infrastructure management agency for Great Britain, has announced that the West Highland Line will be closed for nine days in March. The single-track line north from Crianlarich to Fort William and Mallaig will be closed to […]
South of England site signals its final nuclear shipment
Direct Rail Services (DRS), the rail freight arm of Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), has completed a significant task in the transportation of radioactive materials. The very last flasks of radioactive waste from the Winfrith treated waste store, located on the south coast of England, have been moved to their final destination at the low-level waste […]
Britain demonstrates affordable DAC alternative system
A British alternative has been demonstrated to the EU proposed Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) programme. An examination has been backed by an industry-recognised safety body. The work has been carried out by a nationwide consultancy, and has demonstrated an alternative system. The study found that a cost-effective alternative system of monitoring and real-time reporting could […]
Intercity Railfreight on board with eight operators
Utilising spare capacity on scheduled passenger services is the business model of Intercity Railfreight. How the company utilises that space, to the benefit of their partners, their customers and their fifteen-year-old company, is to carry premium logistics in first-class comfort, at first-class speeds, around the UK. Actually, they use discrete and secure storage, not empty […]
Freightliner and ONE extend strategic intermodal partnership
Freightliner, the American-owned rail freight and logistics provider in the UK, has announced a new five-year contract with Singapore headquartered Ocean Network Express (ONE). The shipping company and the landward logistics provider have been moving containers around the world and around the UK together for six years. Freightliner signed their first deal with ONE in […]
Freight figures in billion pound Teesside transport plan
The predominantly industrial community of Teesside in the northeast of England is set for a significant transport upgrade. The region will benefit from projects that boost air, sea, road and rail connectivity. Rail freight operations in the heavily industrialised area feature in several of the infrastructure enhancements. A one billion pound (1.16bn euros) programme of […]
UK rail freight: will a socialist swing be a sunrise and a good thing?
There is a political turning of the tide expected in the UK. A general election is imminent. The right-wing Conservatives are expected to relinquish the reins of power to the left-wing Labour Party. That would allow the socialists to put their radically different ideas into action. A shake-up for rail freight could be dawning. After […]