146 NEWSHelping ensure a sustainable future for UK rail freight March 2021 Tri-mode locos haul freight’s green future P.3 £17m Southampton freight upgrade P.9 Stadler and Rail Operations (UK) sign new deal for RFG hosts first latest Class 93 tri-mode locomotives virtual Quiz Night Stadler and Rail Operations (UK) have signed requirements. The two LTO battery packs provide a framework agreement for 30 Class 93 tri- 400kW extra power to supplement the engine mode locomotives. An initial batch of 10 when it is running in diesel/battery hybrid mode as locos are due for delivery in early 2023. well as last mile carbon free shunting operation. The Class 93 is a Bo’Bo’ mixed-traffic locomotive Karl Watts, CEO, Rail Operations (UK), said: based on Stadler’s Class 68 and Class 88 locos. “The rail industry has acted very positively It could significantly reduce carbon emissions for in understanding its role in reducing carbon both rail freight as well as potential passenger emissions and improving inner city air quality. The P.18 transport services. Class-93 fleet, with its array of green credentials, will allow us to lead the way in supporting the Malcolm Group In electric mode, it is able to run on 25kV AC rail industry deliver its decarbonisation targets. celebrates 20 years overhead lines with a power of 4,000 kW. It Furthermore, with its impressive state-of-the- in rail freight features a Caterpillar C32 engine and Lithium art specification, the class 93s also allow us Titanate Oxide (LTO) traction battery packs, to develop new markets and modernise many allowing it to operate over non-electrified routes. aspects of UK train operations”. • The diesel engine has a nominal power of 900 kW and meets EU 97/68 Stage V emission Have you registered yet to attend our Annual Scottish P. 21 Conference? ABP invests in new automotive service Join us on 24 March to hear the latest updates on the key challenges and opportunities impacting the sector. All details are on page 3. Mar 2021 RFG Director-General’s Update some understanding of future passenger demand, and that Railways facing cannot be tested until something closer to economic normality is restored. And even those decisions and announcements that the long wait could be made are subject to the cycle of news, and of course the upcoming local and mayoral elections. So whilst these By Maggie Simpson OBE, factors play out within Government, it seems we may have to Director-General, continue waiting. Rail Freight Group(RFG). That does not however mean that everything is on hold, and there continues to be positive developments across the sector. We were pleased to see that Phase 2A of HS2 received Royal Assent meaning it now has the necessary powers to move into Last week (22 Feb) the Prime Minister set out his road the construction phase. Further south, rail freight is now actively map for reopening society. As always there were mixed involved in the construction of phase 1 with 60-70 trains per reactions, for some the unlocking is happening too quickly week now operating and new flows set to come live imminently. set against the risks from Covid, and for others not fast We expect to see rail freight supporting Phase 2A too, and enough set against the societal and economic risks of indeed later phases when they also proceed. restrictions. Wherever you are on the spectrum though, it is clear that many activities will not be resuming for many Our members are not waiting either to start new services and weeks yet, and we will have to continue to wait. make investments for the future. The announcement by Rail Operations Group that they have placed an order for new Class It seems it is no different for the railways either. The much 93 tri-mode locomotives has sent a clear message that the promised White Paper on rail reform is still unpublished, as industry is serious about decarbonisation and prepared to invest is the DfT Transport Decarbonisation Plan and the Integrated to do so. Equally the trials by DB Cargo of alternative fuel in Rail Plan for the North. Various rail enhancements appear to the existing locomotive fleet shows an innovative approach to be stuck in the pipeline pending spending decisions, and even reducing emissions. There is also ongoing investment in new modest programmes such as the Mode Shift Revenue grant services and terminals which you can read about in this edition scheme are still waiting for budget confirmation. of RFG News. So whilst we are waiting, we are certainly not This is perhaps no surprise, given the current fiscal situation and wasting our time. continued uncertainty over the later stages of unlocking. It is hard to determine the direction of travel for the railways without The awards recognise excellence in all aspects of rail freight. • Outstanding Individual Contribution The period of eligibility covered by the awards is 1 April 2020 • Young Rail Freight Professional to 31 March 2021, so we anticipate that there will be many • Business of the Year Award (nominated and chosen by the examples of outstanding efforts made by members of the judges from entries received) rail freight community during the Covid-19 crisis. In fact, we have added a special category to recognise Covid Heroes – Entry process hopefully a category for one year only! Submissions must be made by RFG corporate members and must refer to activities taking place between 1 April 2020 and 31 We would encourage all our members to use this opportunity to March 2021. Members may compete in as many entry categories take the chance to acknowledge the outstanding work done by as they wish and can enter the same project/innovation etc in your teams up and down the country, each and every day. We different categories if appropriate. are planning that winners will be presented with their trophies at an informal ceremony and dinner on Thursday 9 September at Each entry submitted must not exceed 2,000 words, although De Vere Latimer Estate, Chesham, Bucks HP5 1UG. judges welcome supporting statements from third parties that do (Otherwise it will be online as it was last year). not exceed 500 words. No pre-published advertising or market- ing materials will be accepted for consideration. Awards categories • Customer Care (incorporating Support Services) All entries, including an entry form, should be sent to yvonne@ • Community and Environmental Responsibility rfg.org.uk and must be received no later than noon on Friday 28 • Innovation & Technical Development May 2021. • • Rail Freight Project of the Year • Covid Heroes Special Award Click here for full details on award categories and how to enter. Mar 2021 News in Brief • RFG’s Director-General Maggie Simpson OBE was recently published in The Scotsman, discussing the challenges for transporting timber by rail and the significant opportunities yet to be realised. Click here to read the article. • Segro has chosen The improvements mean freight trains will no Winvic to deliver a major longer need to move in and out of Freightliner’s Southampton gets infrastructure works at Maritime Terminal to load and unload goods. Segro Logistics Park Combined with new track, allowing trains to £17m upgrade for Northampton Gateway, move at higher speeds, plus longer sidings, the a 450-acre multimodal efficiency of freight operations will be boosted rail freight logistics hub located by as much as 30%. Network Rail has completed a £17m next to junction 15 of the M1. When complete, the upgrade for freight services accessing the It also brings environmental benefits, as longer development will comprise Port of Southampton. freight trains mean will cut down on the number 5m sq ft of modern, highly of lorries on the roads. Each train will be able to sustainable industrial Since the end of January, engineers have carry up to 14 extra containers – the equivalent facilities and a Strategic worked around the clock between Southampton of 14 HGVs – to Birmingham, Leeds and Rail Freight Interchange Central and Redbridge, remodelling lines used Manchester, cutting down on greenhouse gas (SRFI). by freight trains to access the port. Almost a emissions. mile of new track, 22 new signals and 14 new • The next ORR rail freight sets of switches and crossings, which allow Charlene Wallace, Network Rail’s director usage and performance trains to move between tracks, have been of freight, national passenger and customer statistics are set to be installed to transform both the railway and the experience, said: “We’re delighted to see this released on 27 May at way freight services are handled. programme moving forward, building on the 9.30am. work already undertaken in Southampton that To complete the project and give the green is helping our customers run longer and heavier light to longer trains, engineers needed to trains. We’re committed to getting more freight • HS2 is looking for a commission the railway’s new signals in a line onto rail and schemes like this give the sector specialist contractor to closure between Saturday 13 and Friday 19 the boost it needs to deliver.” • build the high speed rail February. project’s central control centre and maintenance depot at Washwood Heath. The £27m contract, will transform the Register now to attend our virtual 30 hectare brown field site into the nerve centre of Annual Scottish Conference the HS2 network. 24 March 2021 | Webinar • STAR Capital RFG will be holding its Annual Scottish - Martin Jones, Deputy Director, Access & Partnership has Conference on 24 March from 9.30 am to 4 International at ORR – Office of Rail and Road announced that it has pm.