The Hope Valley upgrade in the north of England is improving the railway between Manchester and Sheffield. The project is being promoted as a provision for more reliable and faster passenger journeys. However, the route is also vital to freight operations. It generates multiple flows from industrial plants and aggregates quarries. The latest part of […]
Author: Simon Walton
The keys to longer, more precise payload calculations
In the face of an ever more competitive market, it’s nothing short of a bid to revolutionise rail freight by unlocking unrealised efficiency and sustainability in British operations. The independent Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) recently collaborated with UK-based Railfreight Consulting to pioneer a more scientific and quantitative approach to calculating maximum payloads. Their […]
Tri-mode traction is a freight reality for UK Rail Operations Group
Rail Operations Group has unveiled their groundbreaking tri-mode Class 93 locomotive. It’s a significant milestone for the UK rail industry. The specialist carrier, also known as Rail Operations UK Limited, has taken delivery of its highly anticipated tri-mode Class 93 locomotive, delivered from the manufactures Stadler. Designated as 93001, this revolutionary locomotive marks the first […]
HS2 materials by rail target reached and doubled says Minister Merriman
Huw Merriman, the UK minister for rail, whose portfolio also oversees the HS2 high-speed rail project, says construction is on target in one important metric. The HS2 materials by rail strategy remains at the heart of reducing carbon and creating jobs and opportunities. That strategy included the target of moving ten million tonnes of aggregate […]
Scotland’s Levenmouth Rail Link opening signals new traffic potential
Scotland’s newest railway has taken a significant step towards completion. Trains have been given the green light to use the brand-new Levenmouth Rail Link. The national infrastructure agency, Network Rail, commissioned the signalling system on the line. The move brings reconnection to network operations a step closer. The short spur will provide services to communities […]
Scotland’s Levenmouth Rail Link opening signals new traffic potential
Scotland’s newest railway has taken a significant step towards completion. Trains have been given the green light to use the brand-new Levenmouth Rail Link. The national infrastructure agency, Network Rail, commissioned the signalling system on the line. The move brings reconnection to network operations a step closer. The short spur will provide services to communities […]
British legislation railblocks international rail freight market
Whatever ambitions are harboured by the sector, the UK’s eagerness for international rail freight faces formidable challenges. Tapping into the export and import market is a hurdle race, with the bar seemingly rising higher at every step. The obstacles are largely attributed to intricate legislation. The years since leaving the EU have not made life […]
Freight figures highly in UK Network Rail plans for Lincolnshire
Network Rail has published a long-term strategic advice study for the Lincolnshire area. The study focuses on the region’s main line, which parallels the busy East Coast Main Line. The route is of particular significance to the rail freight sector. Much of Network Rail’s document concentrates on better provision for existing demand. It also touches […]
iPort Rail under new management and set for expansion in 2024
iPort Rail, the multimodal freight terminal at the iPort logistics development in Doncaster, in the north of England. The terminal is set for a significant expansion in 2024. Verdion, the UK subsidiary of Medlog, a subsidiary of MSC, has agreed to operate the terminal. iPort Rail has proved a huge hit with multimodal freight operators, […]
Manchester needs more rail freight to move construction materials
A new report sets out the economic and environmental case for more rail freight into Greater Manchester. The metropolitan area around Manchester is experiencing a significant construction boom, and the vital part played by rail freight has been recognised in a joint report from the Mineral Products Association (MPA) and the Rail Freight Group (RFG), […]