R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

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Freight-only routes SOUTHERN ENGLAND AND SOUTH WALES
DRS; EWS; Freightliner.
Route characteristics
DESCRIPTION This geographically dispersed group of routes conveys freight
trains only. Linespeeds are low, generally 20–30mph.
Route development and customer requirements
Over the past two years, southern England and South Wales have seen an
increase of 30% in rail freight traffic. We forecast that, nationally over the next ten
years, traffic carried will increase by around 300% and the number of trains will
double.
Our goal is, at least, to provide the infra s t ructure to cater for this rate of
future growth and to encourage even higher rates of future grow t h .
To encourage rail freight growth, we will provide reliable infra s t ructure at a
cost which keeps rail freight competitive. We will also increase gauge cleara n c e s ,
axle weights and speeds wherever pra c t i c a bl e, within the constraint of maintaining
cost competitive n e s s .
Freight terminals have been reopened at Brandon, Ipswich Lower Yard (and
connection to the Upper Yard), Bury St Edmunds, Eccles Road, Tilbu ry Rive rs i d e,
Dereham, Slough, Impress Siding at Rhy m n e y, Brynteg (Seven Sisters ) , Towe r
C o l l i e ry, Carm a rthen Goodrington, Heathfield, Newton Abbot and Ply m o u t h .
At Felixstowe, the north and south terminals will be connected as part of
the new signalling system due for completion at Easter.
Wo rk has started on providing a connection to the South Marston freight
t e rminal near Swindon. Wo rk is under way on the new terminal for Royal Mail at
B ristol Pa rk w ay. Site wo rks have begun at Avonmouth Euroterminal.
The route between Marchwood and Fawley has been cleared for W8 gauge.
The Meldon Quarry Line has been reopened to regular tra f fi c.
U p g rading wo rks and speed improvements are continuing on the We s t e rn
Valley Line (between Newport and Ebbw Va l e ) .
The possibility of European grant funding for wo rks associated with
i m p r ovements at the port of Wisbech is being inve s t i g a t e d .
These are the route improvements we plan to deliver
Route vision
Our vision for these freight-only routes is to encourage and cater for growth in
rail freight by providing connections to the network at the most favourable,
strategic locations.
We are examining capacity issues on the Isle of Grain in connection with
increased tra f fic from Thamesport and Foster Yeoman. We are also wo rking with
Associated British Po rts to develop a rail link into the proposed new terminal at
Dibden Bay, Southampton.
We will complete our evaluation of reopening the Po rtishead Branch fo r
freight in part n e rship with the Bristol Po rt Company by May this ye a r.
We are evaluating reopening the Cwm branch from Llantrisant to Cwm
Coking Wo rks and capacity improvements on the East Usk branch in Newport to
cater for new tra f fi c.
A number of options are being evaluated for improving capacity and
reliability on the Vale of Glamorgan Line, in part n e rship with South Wa l e s
I n t e g rated Fast Transit. These improvements will make it more suitable as an
a l t e rn a t i ve route for freight between Cardiff and Bridgend, and the line may also
see scheduled passenger services and new stations.
In part n e rship with Argent, deve l o p e rs of the London International Freight
Exchange at Colnbrook near Heathrow, we are undertaking a feasibility study
i m p r ovement of capacity on the Great We s t e rn Main Line and a connection to
the Colnbrook branch for a proposed major new Euroterminal serving the
London marke t s .
The Vale of Neath and Onllwyn lines have been opened to 24-hour
o p e ration to cater for additional tra f fi c. Track relaying has also been carried out.
Track relaying has been completed on the Cwmbargoed Line.
We have upgraded some branch lines in Cornwall to enable Class 66
l o c o m o t i ves to haul china-clay tra f fi c, and we are evaluating improvements on
other lines in the area.
CAPACITY CHANGES TO MEET FRANCHISING DIRECTOR, PTE AND CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVER ROUTE VISION
LOCATION PROPOSEDSOLUTION YEAR REF
Various new freight sidings and loading points Track & associated signalling as necessar y Ongoing
CAPABILITY CHANGES TO ACHIEVE ROUTE VISION
LINESPEEDS (km of track) km STOPS CURRENT POSITION 2001 POSITION SUSTAINING THE ROUTE ACHIEVING ROUTE VISION
Up to 35mph 495 495 495 499
40–75mph 190 190 190 190
80–105mph 0 0 0 0
110–125mph 0 0 0 0
Over 125mph 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 686 686 686 689
GAUGE (km of route)
W6A 523 523 523 523
W7 469 469 469 469
W8 308 308 308 308
W9 0 0 0 0
W10 0 0 0 0
AXLE WEIGHT (km of track)
Up to 20.3 tonnes 36 36 36 38
20.4 tonnes to 23.4 tonnes 250 250 250 250
23.5 tonnes to 25.4 tonnes 400 400 400 402
TOTAL 686 686 686 689
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