Platform height key to passenger/freight train plan

Platform heights that do not offer level boarding could make or break the success of plans to use passenger trains to carry freight.

That’s according to Jeff Screeton, Managing Director of InterCity RailFreight, who said that trials carried out by his company have found that positioning a ramp to allow cargo to be wheeled on or off a train can take up to 80% of the time required to position a unit onto the train or take it off.

“This could very easily make the difference between the success or failure of rail-based urban freight operations. A platform height that is level with the train floor would enable a much faster and safer transfer of freight units,” Screeton told RAIL.

“Being able to capture otherwise empty space on suburban passenger trains, to facilitate a link between out-of-town hubs and more sustainable last-mile distribution, could be a very important development for local authorities seeking to reduce the road congestion and pollution that is blighting so many towns and cities in the UK.”

At present, InterCity RailFreight has contracts with Great Western Railway for cargo to be transported on its CornwallLondon and Bristol-London routes on a daily basis, while medical samples are carried between Leicester, Nottingham and the capital on East Midlands Trains ( RAIL 860).

However, the company has ambitions to tap into the booming online retail market.

Screeton added: “Key to this development will be the ability to wheel small, secure freight units on and off trains within the very short dwell times spent at stations, without any adverse impact upon performance and passenger safety.”

Rail Freight Group Executive Director Maggie Simpson echoed Screeton’s concerns.

Noting that Crossrail 2 is set to follow the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) in having non-standard platforms in the central section, she told RAIL: “There are good opportunities for getting freight into conurbations by rail, including the potential for using new lines such as Crossrail 2 to get right to the heart of cities.

“We need to make sure that any proposals for yet more variations in platform height will also enable the loading and discharging of freight in an efficient way.

“More generally, the interface between platform heights and container loading gauge must also be considered.”