R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

freight
We will have completed
the core WCML
clearance to W10 gauge
without grant funding by
December 1999 with
the first phase from
Daventry–Scotland
available from July 1999
90
7.5 continued 7.6
At the same time, we are tidying up the nomenclature used
to describe the loading gauge (see Table C opposite).
We will have completed the core WCML clearance to
W10 gauge without grant funding by December 1999 with
the first phase from Daventry–Scotland available from July
1999. We have submitted a funding proposal to the
Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions
(DETR) to clear two routes between the Tunnel and London
to W10 gauge by 2004 with the affected structures moved
to W11w gauge in anticipation of the later development of a
W11 gauge.This will include a joint programme of work with
Union Railways to clear sections of the route between
Ashford and the Channel Tunnel to W11w gauge in parallel
with the development of the CTRL.
Completing the rest of the programme is dependent
on our agreeing further partnership arrangements with
DETR.Our proposed programme is set out in Table D
(opposite).
We are now reviewing the timescales to see how we
can deliver the W10 network much more quickly including
extension of the network to include the ECML.
When we have finished this programme, at least
1,892km of the network will be available at W10 gauge as
shown in the map on page 89.
Elsewhere, we will continue to clear individual route
sections for particular traffic flows in response to customers’
requests.To speed up this process, we have launched a
nationwide project to assess in greater detail all routes,and
the 400,000 structures over them,and to ensure that
clearances of more restricted structures are maintained.
7.6 Terminals and mothballed routes
We are continuing to work with a number of parties to
develop more freight terminals and to reinstate disused
facilities.We have also secured a number of sites and
mothballed route sections that are likely to be of benefit to
rail freight in the future . Last year, the number of active
freight terminals was increased by 20 to 1,055. Particular
features have been:
• for the Royal Mail,the completion of the core Railnet
network with the opening of new terminals in
Warrington and Shieldmuir and the commencement of
work at Bristol Parkway. We have also started to
develop plans at Peterborough.
• the reopening of the Gedling,Heathfield and East Leake
branches to freight traffic.
• the return of rail freight for the first time in years to
locations such as Pembroke Dock, Paignton,Hicks Lodge,
Rawdon, Renishaw Park, Brynteg,Broomhill,Rhymney,
Lowestoft,Carmarthen,Newton Abbot,Plymouth Friary
and Grantham.
• working with developers of major new intermodal
terminals at Colnbrook, Tyne Dock,Swindon,Cardiff,
Bristol,Aberdeen and Southampton.
• the acquisition of 11 sites from the BRB’s property
portfolio.Together with our customers, we will continue
to highlight this issue.
• the acquisition of a further four sites including the
113-hectare former colliery at Parkside near Wigan and
adjacent to the WCML,North Trans-Pennine Route, M6
and M62.
• the publication of the third edition of our Freight
Connections Guidewhich included, for the first time,
contact details of local authorities who have identified
locations for the future development of rail freight.
Unfortunately, due to changes in market conditions it is
unlikely that we will see any traffic in the short term from
some 15 other schemes that we have been involved in
developing recently, ie Corkickle, Buxton,Agecroft,Tilbury,
Clitheroe, Burntisland,Brandon,Saltley Gasworks,Castle
Donington,Walsall Tasker Street,Shrewsbury, Swindon scrap
sidings,Darlaston,Northampton,Nuneaton.This illustrates
the nature of risks involved in the freight mar ket.