Plans submitted to modify Mk 3s as freight vehicles
REDUNDANT Mk 3 and Mk 4 carriages could potentially be converted into freight vehicles coupled to high-speed passenger services.
InterCity Railfreight and rail consultancy Intermodality have submitted a proposal to the Government to get the carriages back in service.
Intermodality Director Nick Gallop told RAIL on January 25 that the Mk 3s would be the ideal carriages for the scheme, as they are modern, easily recognisable, and have at least ten years’ life left in them. He said that disused Mk 4s could then be considered if the Mk 3s prove successful.
Mk 3s currently used in High Speed Train formations by Great Western Railway and Virgin Trains East Coast will be replaced by Hitachi’s Intercity Express Programme Class 800/801s from 2018. IEP will also displace the majority of Mk 4s from VTEC from 2018.
But rather than the carriages being scrapped, the freight plans could give them a new lease of life, in turn raising revenue for train operating companies (TOCs).
If approved, seating will either be completely removed from the trains to create a full freight vehicle, or converted into a vehicle capable of carrying both passengers and freight (similar to brake vehicles), depending on demand. They would then be coupled to passenger services to offer a high-speed delivery service around the UK.
InterCity RailFreight has a number of passenger-freight schemes already in place with several TOCs, and believes transporting small freight on passenger services is a valuable use of space.
Current services include East Midlands Trains’ parcel courier service on London to Nottingham trains, and Great Western Railway’s fresh produce transportation service from Cornwall to London. Transporting goods by highspeed train is much faster than by road and helps to reduce carbon emissions.
The owners of the Mk 3s, Porterbrook and Angel Trains, told RAIL they have not yet been approached about converting the carriages. Gallop added that TOCs have so far given positive responses to the scheme.