Freight objections to passengers in Wales
A much-improved passenger service connecting communities in Wales and England may not go ahead unless a solution can be found to accommodate rail freight. Despite new trains already on delivery, willingness from the devolved government in Cardiff, and cooperation from local authority leaders in England, the needs of existing freight operators may have been overlooked. As a result, an objection has been lodged, with freight effectively stopping progress in its tracks.
Do you want to read the full article?
Thank you for visiting RailFreight.com. Become a member of RailFreight Premium and get full access to all our premium content.
Are you already a member?
Having problems logging in? Call +31(0)10 280 1000 or send an email to customerdesk@promedia.nl.
A very good example of the absolute importance of infrastructure. We also recognise a typical feature of politics: running trains, regardless of the track. The current tendency is to believe that in order to lower costs, trains can be satisfied with a track without much modernisation. It’s of course a mistake…
Freight could travel at night.
In theory freight can travel at night but that is when Network Rail carry out maintenance.
Why not just run longer passenger trains?
The trouble is that in the current day, the infrastructure is so neglected with long signalling blocks or on single track lines, insufficient passing loops that there is no additional capacity. If they had sufficient signalling blocks and passing loops there would be sufficient capacity for passenger, freight and charters. Its a prominent problem that needs to be addressed.
The answer is simple! Lengthen the freight sidings and provide a connection to the line at the southern end of the sidings, So freight trains can go straight in and not having to run further up the line to run round. By doing this it would free up paths and provide the paths for 2 passenger trains per hour.