Rail freight

RAIB investigating another incident of a container falling from a train

17.04.15: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has announced it is investigating the second incident of a container being blown off a freight train in a month. The organisation is already looking into an incident on 7 March in Cumbria where...

Council refuses to end fight against Radlett freight interchange

14.04.15: St Albans City and District Council (SADC) has confirmed that it will seek permission to appeal the dismissal of its recent court challenge against the proposal for a strategic rail freight interchange (SRFI) at Radlett.      &nbs...

High winds ‘blew freight container off train’ in Cumbria

27.03.15: High winds blew a 30-foot container off a freight train travelling at 75mph on the down mainline in the vicinity of Scout Green, Cumbria, earlier this month, investigators have said.  The empty container, blown off an FEA(B) wagon that...

Council still considering whether to appeal Radlett decision

24.03.15: St Albans City and District Council (SADC) is still considering whether to appeal the High Court’s decision to dismiss its appeal against a rail freight terminal at Radlett being built on green belt land.  Last year, the council...

Eversholt Rail sells entire freight wagon fleet

03.03.15: Eversholt Rail, the rolling stock leasing company, has announced it is selling its entire freight wagon fleet to Nacco (UK) Ltd. The sale is for an undisclosed price. The fleet consists of 920 wagons and 63 load units. The vehicles range fr...

Port of Sunderland lines back in use after 20 years

06.02.15: The transport secretary has visited the north east to see a locomotive run along the rail line to the Port of Sunderland, for the first time in 20 years.  The use of the lines for a light engine rail trial yesterday followed £600...

Redesign calls for Channel Tunnel’s open shuttle trains after latest fire

02.02.15: Lord Berkeley has called on the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission to review the design of open shuttle trains that carry lorries through the Channel Tunnel.  In a letter to Chris Irwin, head of the UK delegation to the Channe...

High Court appeal over Radlett SRFI to be heard next week

30.01.15: The government’s decision to approve plans for the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) at Radlett will be challenged in the High Court next week.  In the last seven years, St Albans District Council (SADC) has spent £...

Eurotunnel increases fleet strength with £31m order

13.01.15: Eurotunnel has ordered three new freight shuttles for its fleet to meet the “growing demand” of cross-Channel traffic flows. The Channel Tunnel operator, which is also seeking a buyer for its MyFerryLink business after a UK cour...

Upgraded Ipswich Yard ‘fully operational’ after 12-week delay

22.12.14: The newly upgraded Ipswich Yard, which includes extended rail sidings, new overhead line equipment and signals, is now fully operational with freight operators able to use it.  Network Rail confirmed that the £25m upgrade project...

Government reiterates support for strategic rail freight interchanges

18.12.14: The government has reiterated its support for strategic rail freight interchanges (SRFIs) for driving economic growth, despite many of them facing local opposition and planning delays.  The  National Networks National Policy State...

Freight train derails in Northumberland

19.11.14: A freight train has derailed in Northumberland as it delivered coal from Blyth to Cottam power station. The train, operated by DB Schenker, came off the tracks Monday night but remained strewn across the line throughout Tuesday. Nobody...

Network Rail to buy more than 100 rail freight sites

03.11.14: Network Rail has agreed a deal to buy more than 100 rail freight sites from three of the country’s biggest freight operating companies, including 87 from DB Schenker alone. The self-financing transaction will see the owner of Britain&...

Eurotunnel outlines five obstacles to new cross-Channel freight services

31.10.14: Eurotunnel has called on the government to work with its European counterparts to tackle five obstacles it says are significant barriers to companies seeking to launch new rail freight services through the Channel Tunnel. Throughout Europe...

Another rail freight interchange faces local opposition

22.10.14: A planned Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) in the East Midlands is facing opposition from a local action group who want the plans scrapped. The opposition to the East Midlands Gateway is reminiscent of the struggles faced to get th...