High-capacity freight may benefit from reduced passenger timetable

THE reduced passenger timetable operating during the coronavirus pandemic has benefitted freight trains by allowing them to run more efficiently with reduced journey times, writes Industry Witness.

Network Rail has now said that for this to continue, a cutback of some secondary passenger services may be necessary at critical network locations where capacity is constrained – such as has already been suggested in central Manchester.

There is an increasing number of freight operations running with a train length of 775 metres (technically the equivalent of 120 SLU in a traditional operating terms). Terminals are also being expanded to deal with trains of this size, with the latest being at Southampton docks.

This expansion is likely to be accelerated following the announcement in the Government's budget to establish a number of freeport areas. Eight such areas are to be created in England to stimulate international trade, with the potential for further sites in Wales and Scotland. These locations are deemed to be secure customs zones where there is relief from import taxes and less restrictive planning rules for development.

Large container ports are included that already have rail intermodal services, such as Felixstowe, Southampton, Thames (covering Tilbury, Ford Dagenham and London

Gateway), and Liverpool. An inland site at East Midlands airport has also been chosen, where an intermodal rail terminal was recently opened. Other freeport areas announced are at Humber (Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Immingham), Teesside (Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Wilton chemical works and Teesside Airport) and Plymouth. At present these have less developed intermodal services, but there will be generous capital allowances to build future infrastructure.