143 NEWSHelping ensure a sustainable future for UK rail freight September 2020 iPort Rail named RFG’s Business of the Year Judges commend its vision for the future and drive to make it a reality P.3 iPort Rail has won ‘Business of the Year’ at needed to implement it.” Rail freight starts to the Rail Freight Group’s annual excellence awards event, with judges praising its Held on 10 September, the awards were play its part in HS2 outstanding vision for the future of the rail presented by the event sponsors and presenters freight sector. on the night John Smith, MD of GB Railfreight (GBRf), and Simon Coppen of Burges Salmon. Chosen by the awards judges from all the entries received, iPort Rail had demonstrated Accepting the award on behalf of iPort Rail, how it achieved excellence in customer care, Managing Director Steve Freeman said: “Some environmental standards and innovation. of the strategic partnerships that we’ve had over the last couple of years have helped us Judges said: “iPort Rail has spent years planning enormously. We’ve all faced some difficult times and investing heavily to build the first inland rail over the past six months and as we go into 2021 P.9 freight terminal to be open and operational for there’s no doubt that they’re going to continue. AV Dawson launches a decade. Now, as well as attracting six daily The challenges that we face are coming from intermodal services from around the country, it a number of areas however this industry is Port of Middlesbrough has also proved that medium distance rail flows nothing if not resilient. If we continue to partner are viable. In fact, this business has actually and work well together, we will continue to thrive been instrumental in helping some of the rail together. And work hard to get a bigger share of freight flows cited in other award entries. The the UK’s logistics market.” judges were impressed by this business taking a vision for the future and then doing everything Continued on page 2.
P.18 Tarmac stays on track with Highlands timber trial paves the way for new rail freight contracts future services
Article on page 6.
P. 27 VTG and DB Cargo unveil new modular wagon RFG Director-General’s Update
We know that members really value our annual events RFG Awards programme and we are starting to think about options for how we might be able to start some face-to-face meetings success despite in 2021. At the present time, the situation remains unstable but we are committed to finding new ways of bringing people Covid-19 together whenever it is sensible and safe to do so. In the meantime, we are continuing with our programme of webinars restrictions and online meetings, so please do join in with those (see By Maggie Simpson, our events calendar on page 20) and if you are interested in Director-General speaking at an upcoming webinar please do let me know at Rail Freight Group (RFG). [email protected]. As we move into the autumn, we are aware of the challenges It was a great pleasure to host our first virtual Rail Freight ahead for our members with a resurgence of Covid-19 concerns Awards, on the evening of 10 September, and to welcome and the end of the transition period at the end of the year. There more than 100 of our members and supporters to join in are also a number of specific policy areas we are working on, the celebrations. A huge congratulations to all our winners including reforms to the planning system, red diesel relief and and in particular to our Business of the Year winner iPort the so called ‘Project Speed’ reviews of infrastructure projects. Rail. In each case, we are keen to understand members’ perspective on the issues that are being raised and of course on any other Although we have all become accustomed to working online, areas that are relevant. putting on an event of this scale was quite a daunting task, and one that we could not have achieved without the help and In the meantime there continues to be a lot of good news in support of Burges Salmon’s events and technical teams. Thank rail freight, most particularly the start of services to support you to everyone who helped us and of course to all our judges HS2 construction (see page 3). It is really encouraging to see who worked tirelessly to scrutinize and debate all the entries these positive stories and the ongoing demand for rail from our and eventually decide on the deserving winners. I’d also like to customers. Enjoy reading all about it, and our worthy winners, thank the RFG Team for all their work moving the event online. as you look through this edition. •
Continued from page 1.
Maggie Simpson, RFG Director-General, added: “With all the This year, we were also delighted to welcome award-winning challenges we have had since the start of lockdown in March, it magician Nick Einhorn and his new online magic and mind- can be hard to forget about things which happened ‘pre-Covid’. reading show Virtual Astonishment. Nick wowed all the guests Our Awards offer us a chance to look back at all the positive with his amazing and completely baffling close-up magic, and events and developments that took place in the 12 months up to successfully doing it online is amazing. March, and the very real successes that we were seeing in our industry. And while that may feel a little bitter-sweet, I think it is A huge thank you to Burges Salmon and GBRailfreight for those successes that actually stand our sector in a really good hosting the awards and to Simon Coppen and John Smith for place for recovery and renewed growth. Our resilience, flexibility their presenting and long-standing support for our awards. and adaptability, are the blueprint for our future.” Full list of winners and runners-up on page 4. • More than 100 people attended the virtual event, which was the 13th RFG Awards, and on the night nearly £2000 was raised for the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) through a charity raffle. Congratulations to all the winners on the night. 2 Sep 2020 News in Brief
• Tesco and Transfesa Logistics are now working together to transport fruit and vegetables in refrigerated units from Spain to the UK. Initially, they will be transporting 15 loads each week from the Almussafes rail terminal in Valencia to DB Cargo’s Barking terminal. Wagons will pass through the Transfesa’s Cerbère facility rail freight sector. in the south of France to Rail freight starts change axles to the UIC The Washwood Heath Railhead site, managed standard gauge. its work with HS2 by HS2’s main works partner Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), took the first delivery from HS2 • Network Rail is to consult The first rail freight delivery of aggregate on the Ely area capacity has arrived at HS2’s Washwood Heath site preferred aggregates supplier Rail Stone Solutions (RSS) and their rail haulage partner enhancement programme, in Birmingham, signalling the start of its which is set to meet the major programme to take up to 1.5m lorries GB Railfreight (GBRf) on 25 August (see below for more detail). demand for more rail off the roads to cut carbon emissions. freight between the Port Over the next four months, more than 150 of Felixstowe the West Over the next decade, up to 15,000 freight trains Midlands and the North are set to haul some 10m tonnes of aggregate trains will bring up to 235,000 tonnes of stone from quarries in the Peak District, equating to (More on this on page 10). to HS2 construction sites. Each freight train replaces around 70 lorries, representing a keeping an estimated 13,000 lorry movements massive reduction in carbon emissions and off the road. • • On 15 October, RFG’s marking a significant investment for Britain’s Director-General Maggie Simpson is joining a panel debate at the Rail Forum Midlands Annual Conference. She will be and in full. The source point for aggregate will tackling the role of rail GBRf and Rail Stone be a Tarmac quarry in the Derbyshire Peak freight in decarbonising District, one of the aggregate supply locations the railway. Click here for Solutions win two that is strategically critical for the supply by rail details. major HS2 contracts to support HS2. • Network Rail is investing The partnership between GBRf and RSS, GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Rail Stone some £36m in new running up to Christmas, will initially see up Solutions (RSS) have won two contracts to signalling improvements. to 157 trains deliver 235,000 tonnes of Type support construction on the first phase of Equipment which is 1 aggregate for the first phase of construction HS2. The deals, with HS2 contractors EKFB nearly 40 years old will work for HS2. Ten trains per week, conveying (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial BAM Nuttall) and be replaced as part of the up to 77 tonnes in 20 box wagons, will transport BBV (Balfour Beatty VINCI) will see GBRf join Great North Rail Project. forces with RSS to deliver aggregates to the 1500 tonnes of product per train. This amounts project’s main construction compounds. 15,000 tonnes delivered to site per week. The first trainload arrived at Balfour Beatty • Joe O’Donnell, Head of Policy, has unfortunately As part of the deal with EKFB, GBRf will VINCI’s Washwood Heath construction site now left RFG to take up support the training of new train drivers at last week. GBRf will act as Facility Operator, a new role leading the their new state-of-the-art twin-simulators near essentially operating the railhead. Rail Freight Victorian Society. Although Peterborough where the UK’s first and only full- Services (RFS) – also a GRS joint venture with Joe only joined the team cab freight European Rail Traffic Management Aggregate Industries – are managing train in January he has made a System (ERTMS) simulator centre is located. unloading and material handling. big difference to our Policy agenda during the Covid The announcement follows news last month For the services operating to Washwood Heath, crisis in particular and he that GB Railfreight will be moving aggregates moving 3000 tonnes of aggregate using HGVs will be very much missed. in a deal struck with RSS – part of the GRS would require around 150 trucks, whereas We wish him every Group – and Balfour Beatty VINCI. GBRf can transport the same quantity using only two trains. Averaging this over a four- success in his new role. One hundred box wagons have been procured month period, transporting 235,000 tonnes of specifically for Balfour Beatty VINCI to utilise for aggregate would require 11,750 long distance rail deliveries to construct HS2. GB Railfreight road movements from the Peak District to will provide traction, drivers, ground staff and Birmingham. • timetabling services to ensure delivery on time, 3 Sep 2020
RFG AWARDS NIGHT 2020 THE WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP
A huge congratulations to everyone who won an award or a raffle prize at our recent awards event. It was a fantastic event, made more special by a great turnout on the night and some fantastic entertainment.
The Winners and Runners-up were: • Customer Care, Runner Up, Hutchison Ports, Felixstowe • Customer Care, Winner DB Cargo and Network Rail • Community & Environmental Responsibility, Runner-Up, PD Ports • Community & Environmental Responsibility, Winner, Direct Rail Services • Innovation and Technical Development, Runner-Up, DB Cargo • Innovation and Technical Development, Winner, Aggregate Industries • Rail Freight Project of the Year • Joint Winner: DC Rail and VTG Rail • Joint Winner: Network Rail and Brett Aggregates • Outstanding Individual Contribution, Hans-Georg Werner, DB Cargo • Young Rail Freight Professional, Runners-Up, Matthew Hurrell, Freightliner and Jordan Lynn, DB Cargo • Young Rail Freight Professional, Winner, Fraser Stirling, Peter D Stirling Ltd • Business of the Year, Winner, iPort Rail.
A huge thank you also to our event sponsors Burges Salmon and GBRailfreight (GBRf) for their vital and unwavering support. A special thanks to the team at Burges Salmon for the event planning and technical support, to RFG Project Manager Yvonne Mulder for pulling everything together and to Nick Einhorn, our amazing magician on the night who provided such outstanding entertainment. Lastly, a huge thank you to everyone who listened in and to our members for their continuing support. •
4 Sep 2020
Forth Ports appoints Ian Wilson to drive forward group rail offering
Forth Ports has appointed rail freight expert Ian Wilson as its new Intermodal and Logistics Development Manager to focus on the rail offering in Tilbury and Grangemouth.
Ian is a respected, senior executive who is highly experienced in the rail freight, logistics and supply chain industry. He previously worked for Eddie Stobart for 20 years in a number of roles, latterly as Business Development Manager in their rail freight division. Ian joined Forth Ports in August and will work across the group, focussing on the rail investment in both Tilbury and Grangemouth.
Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer, said: “Ian’s appointment comes at an important time for Forth Ports as we focus and invest manner. Ian brings a wealth of experience in rail freight through in our rail offering across the UK. We have invested over £250m his time with Eddie Stobart and he has a strong track record in to create Tilbury2 and when the rail head opens at the port later delivering results in the sector,” he added. this year, it will be capable of handling the longest freight trains on the tracks. We also have a multimillion-pound investment Commenting on his appointment, Ian said: “This is an exciting programme underway in Grangemouth to further enhance our time for Forth Ports as they position their key ports in Tilbury rail offering, providing a seamless link between our hubs on the and Grangemouth as unrivalled rail hubs. I am confident that Thames and Grangemouth. there are a number of opportunities in the market for businesses looking for a flexible, efficient and greener solution on rail. I am “We have dedicated direct rail services between our ports looking forward to playing my part in securing this business.” • enabling customers to get their goods from the South East into the central belt of Scotland in a time, carbon and cost-efficient 5 Sep 2020 Tarmac on track with renewal of rail freight contracts Tarmac has renewed five of its key rail freight haulage contracts.
• Colas Rail UK has been awarded the contract for the Dunbar cement works in East Lothian.
• GB Railfreight (GBRf) has won the contract for aggregates from Swinden, Thrislington and Dry Rigg/Arcow quarries. With more than 60 rail-connected sites carbon built environment and the across the country, Tarmac is one of continued enhancement of our rail • Freightliner has been awarded the UK’s biggest users of rail freight, freight capabilities. Effective use of the the contract for the Tunstead site transporting around 9m tonnes of high- rail freight network is key in supporting the in Derbyshire & the West Country quality construction materials for use in UK’s transition to a net-zero society and quarries, including deliveries from local, regional and national infrastructure supporting a green recovery as we emerge Wales, Somerset, & Herefordshire . each year. from the Covid-19 crisis. Collaborative working has a vital role to play in this and • DB Cargo has won the contracts for Chris Swan, head of rail at Tarmac, we’re looking forward to working with our Mountsorrel quarry in Leicestershire, said: “The renewal of these contracts freight operating partners as the industry as well as Tarmac’s aggregates highlights both our ongoing commitment focuses on increasing the volumes of business in Greenwich. to supporting the delivery of a lower- material moved by rail.” •
Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs). These Franchising is Dead - address the continuing impact of the pandemic on the railway. These management agreements have tougher Long Live Rail Freight! performance targets and lower management fees. Management fees will now be a maximum of 1.5% of the Rail Freight Group (RFG) has called for full recognition cost base of the franchise before the pandemic began. of the rail freight sector in Government’s planned reforms for UK railways. Keith Williams, chair of the Williams Review, said: “These
new agreements represent the end of the complicated The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced franchising system, demand more from the expertise fundamental changes to the structure of passenger and skills of the private sector, and ensure passengers train contracting and operations, effectively bringing rail return to a more punctual and co-ordinated railway. I am franchising to an end. It also signalled further changes ensuring the recommendations I propose are fit for a post- in future through ‘a process of reform that will ensure our Covid world, but these contracts kickstart a process of railways are entirely focused on the passenger.’ reform that will ensure our railways are entirely focused on the passenger, with a simpler, more effective system In a statement DfT said the move would seek to bring that works in their best interest.” Britain’s ‘fragmented network back together’, which would
create ‘a simpler, more effective structure’. More detail is In response, Maggie Simpson, RFG Director-General, expected to be published over the next few months in a said: “Rail freight operators continue to operate in white paper but this will not be until ‘the course of the the private sector, as they have done for the past two pandemic becomes clearer’. The first stage will involve decades. They, and their customers, expect their needs moving passenger operators onto transitional contracts to to be placed at the heart of the railway, alongside, and prepare the ground for the envisioned ‘new railway’. no less than, the needs of passengers. Rail freight is essential for decarbonising transport and supporting Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps MP, said: “The model economic recovery. Network Rail and the Department of privatisation adopted 25 years ago has seen significant for Transport must continue to support growth, deliver for rises in passenger numbers but this pandemic has proven our customers and ensure fair and equal access to the that it is no longer working. Our new deal for rail demands network for freight services.” more for passengers...It will keep the best elements of the private sector, including competition and investment, that The full release and details can be found here. have helped to drive growth but deliver strategic direction, leadership and accountability.
Franchising has now been replaced with Emergency 6 Sep 2020
approved modification instructions and then hand-back of Yellow Rail wins Digital the units following completion of the works.
Train Project deal with Andy Marden, Head of Transformation – Engineering at Arriva Northern Northern said he was “Extremely pleased with Yellow Rail’s performance” and looks forward to a continuation of Following a stringent selection process, RFG member the service levels seen to date. Yellow Rail has been awarded a major contract for the high profile Northern Digital Train project at Arriva The scope of the work undertaken will include 362 Northern’s Newton Heath, Allerton and Holbeck vehicles (Class 150, 153, 155,156, 170, 323 and 769). depots.
While passenger focused, the multi-system project is an exciting opportunity for Yellow Rail and includes a raft Welcome our latest of responsibilities that include: site set up; stakeholder co-ordination; on-board systems integration; project new members engineering; logistics; project reporting; operations RFG would like to welcome its latest new members: and site management. It also includes project and site risk management, site-based project HSE and quality • Tracsis management. • Eversholt Rail Yellow Rail will handle the acceptance of the vehicles from • Tesco Distribution Northern, installation of equipment in accordance with the • Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK.
• Andrew Kluth Lead Carbon Specialist RSSB Transport Minister to address • Jonathan Brown Technical and Innovation Engagement Lead Rail Freight Conference 2020 – Rail Ricardo.
The Rail Freight Group Conference will be taking place on 14 October as a virtual event and will provide all the latest Brexit letter highlights need updates on the changes across the industry, while explor- ing the new opportunities for growth. to better support freight In an open letter to the freight sector, Michael Gove MP has Attend the event to hear from Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Minister outlined the critical need to prepare for January 2021, when of State for Transport, who will joining us as the keynote speak- new Brexit rules on cross-border trade come into force. er. Other industry expert speakers include: He wrote that “Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations be- • Andy Saunders Delivery Director Network Rail tween the UK and EU, traders will face new customs controls and • Kathryn Oldale Head of Strategy, Policy and Communications processes. Simply put, if traders, both in the UK and EU, have DB Cargo not completed the right paperwork, their goods will be stopped • Peter Graham Head of Rail Strategy Freightliner when entering the EU and disruption will occur. It is essential that • Liam Day Commercial Director GB Railfreight traders act now and get ready for new formalities.” • Declan Collier Chair Office of Rail and Road • John Thomas Director of Policy Rail Delivery Group He wrote that the government is making ‘extensive preparations • Richard Mann Senior Rail Programme Manager Midlands for a wide range of scenarios’ and that officials were ‘working Connect closely with key stakeholders on a range of plans to minimise and manage the risk of disruption to the flow of goods.’ • Martin Tugwell Programme Director England’s Economic
Heartland Strategic Alliance; President CIHT Updated information can be accessed via gov.uk/transition. • • Geoff Lippitt Group Busines Development Director PD Ports • Richard Ballantyne Chief Executive British Ports Association
Sep 2020
As part of its ongoing webinars programme, RFG Steamology’s high power turbines are: energy dense, is delighted to be joint hosting a members-only long life and cost-effective. The webinar will be illustrated webinar, exploring the work of Steamology Ltd – the with photos of the dynamometer, the turbine design and recipient of First of a Kind 2020 innovation funding. early manufacture.
Matt Candy will explain how Steamology is developing Click the image above to register to attend. Please note if high power zero-emission steam turbine electric solu- you are not an RFG Member but would like to join, please tions to offer an alternative to diesel for Class 66 freight contact Phillippa O’Shea at [email protected] locomotives. This technology is intended to extend the life of diesel engine rolling stock life beyond 2040.
“We have thought long and hard about what drives the business AV Dawson sets out to forward and what defines us – we’ve concluded that our location and the River Tees are key to this, neither of which feature in boost opportunities the company name. So given the nature of all of the multimodal assets and activities that we own and operate, we are best as it rebrands as positioned from a marketing perspective describing ourselves as Port of Middlesbrough a port. “We wanted to consolidate under one new encompassing brand AV Dawson has amalgamated several parts of its and image, but with a continuation of the AV Dawson name and Middlesbrough-based port and logistics operations to form legacy. ‘Port of Middlesbrough – an AV Dawson facility’ fits with one, integrated port facility as it drives forward with further our history and reflects the growth of our business and the town. growth and expansion. The new port marks the start of a three-year port masterplan to The business has called this new facility Port of Middlesbrough in further develop the site, which will go on to create further jobs honour of a port that was on the same stretch of the River Tees and investment in the local area. This plan, an investment of back in the 1830s, prior to the construction of Middlesbrough over £10m includes the construction of a plastic waste recycling Dock. plant (read more on this on page 22), a new headoffice and the enhancement of AV Dawson’s existing quayside to accommodate Gary Dawson, managing director at AV Dawson said: “Over larger vessels. It’s anticipated that these developments will create the years, we’ve acquired various sites as we’ve expanded our over a hundred new jobs on the site. • operations and its become a challenge to describe succinctly what AV Dawson Ltd is. 9 Sep 2020
projects.” The main works contractor for the Tideway East project, London Thamesport CVB, is a joint venture comprising, Costain, VINCI Construction Receives First Train for Grands Projets and Bachy Soletanche. Neil Grosset, Deputy Project Director CVB on Tideway East, Tideway East said: “CVB is delighted to be delivering primary precast tunnel rings into London Thamesport by rail for the East sections of The first train has arrived at Hutchison Ports London the Thames Tideway Tunnel. With approximately half the rings Thamesport with primary tunnel precast rings for the being loaded to barges using the port’s ship to shore quay cranes Thames Tideway Tunnel project in London. The Thames for final delivery to the TBM site in Greenwich, this will enable us Tideway ‘Super Sewer’ will upgrade London’s current sewer to provide an efficient, reliable, robust and cost effective solution network to cope with demands well into the 22nd century whilst simultaneously delivering a significant reduction in the and reconnect the city with the iconic River Thames. CO2 levels generated from the project.
6,000 precast rings will initially be transported by rail from the “We look forward to working in partnership with the excellent manufacturing plant in Lincolnshire and will eventually leave the London Thamesport team who have demonstrated their port by barge and road, destined for the main East and Greenwich experience and capabilities in successfully handling similar major sections of the Tideway project. infrastructure and construction related projects across London and the South East. With the combined benefits of rail, barge Commenting on the first train move, Paul Davey, Head of Corporate and road connections, together with its ideal location, London Affairs Hutchison Ports UK, owners and operators of London Thamesport offered us a winning all-round solution which exactly Thamesport, said: “We welcome this first train move for Tideway meet our needs for this important project,” he added. at our London Thamesport facility. The first of many, this move demonstrates clearly London Thamesport’s prime advantages as The train is operated on behalf of CVB by DB Cargo. • a multi-purpose cargo handling port. With an excellent combination of deep-water and multimodal rail, barge and road connections to London and the South East, London Thamesport is ideally located to serve the construction sector and major infrastructure
Ely area capacity upgrade Network Rail has opened the first round of public consultation into the upgrade works in and around Ely.
Running for six weeks from 21 September to 1 November, residents and businesses in and around Ely are being invited learn more about the EACE programme and provide an opportunity for local communities to understand the benefits.
Topics for discussion and scrutiny will include: the aspirations are to increase capacity, the challenges that will have to be addressed to increase capacity, how the public will be consulted as options are progressed, and current funding position.
Currently operating at full capacity, the railway through Ely is a vital part of the rail network that includes a busy junction where five railway lines converge, providing important routes tokey destinations for passenger and freight services.
Click here for further detail. 10 Sep 2020
Photo by Les Bryant at Davis Wagon Services.
John Smith, MD of GBRf, said: “I am delighted that we are The new Ecofret2 rolls off continuing our relationship with VTG. Over the years, time and again we have been very pleased with the wagons and the the production line improved levels of performance and capacity we can therefore offer our customers. VTG is leading the way in containerised VTG Rail and GB Railfreight (GBRf) have signed a new transport and adding even more Ecofrets to our fleet is part of our contract for the leasing of an additional 52 Ecofret2® triple- continued growth plan. As a business, our goal is to offer the best platform wagons. possible service to our customers and we are investing heavily in the wagons that will enable us to expand our operations, whilst The enhanced deal follows an initial announcement that GBRf also providing the extra freight capacity the industry really needs.” would lease 32 Ecofret2 triple wagon sets, which will enter service in 2021. All of the new wagons will be manufactured by VTG’s Rob Brook added: “VTG is thrilled to have been selected WH Davis, with operations and maintenance being managed by as the supplier of the next generation of container wagons for VTG Rail’s teams in Birmingham and Peterborough. GBRf and looks forward to providing them with the highest levels of service, efficiency and reliability. Our long-standing The award-winning Ecofret wagons set new levels of efficiency in relationship has seen the introduction of numerous new wagons, rail freight and will boost the service offering to GBRf’s customers, each helping to support their expansion for more than a decade. including increased TEU available per train due to the optimal length of the vehicles. GBRf already operates a fleet of around “As a leader in innovation, VTG has made further significant 1,400 wagons and 149 locomotives. investments in the Ecofret design ensuring that the new Ecofret2 wagon will bring even greater in-service benefits than its ground- GBRf has been working with VTG for more than 10 years, and breaking predecessor. With its improved loading flexibility and the deal highlights both companies’ commitment to excellent brand new, track friendly bogie design, this new wagon builds on customer service, ongoing investment in the market and the efficiency benefits provided by the original Ecofret since its continued support for UK plc. introduction seven years ago.” •
New Strategy launched to drive forward green agenda
Network Rail has published its Environment Sustainability Strategy targeting the steps needed over the next 30 years to put rail at the top of the transport and green agenda.
The report details four core priorities; a low emission railway, a reliable service that is resilient to climate change, improved biodiversity of plants and wildlife plus minimal waste and sustainable use of materials. •
11 Sep 2020
purpose-built biomass wagons that are larger and therefore GBRf and Drax extend rail more efficient at carrying the pellets. In the past year, the longstanding relationship between Drax contract to transport and GBRf has helped overcome challenges such as the local floods in February to the Drax branch line and then the Covid-19 biomass until 2025 crisis, ensuring continuous flows of biomass that helped keep the power station running and the lights on in Britain. GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Drax have agreed to extend their John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight, said: “I am contract to transport supplies of sustainable biomass from delighted to be continuing GB Railfreight’s ongoing partnership UK ports to Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire until with Drax. We will continue to deliver vital supplies of sustainable 2025. biomass for a further five years, ensuring power is generated Teams at GBRf have worked closely with Drax for the past in a clean and sustainable way as well as reducing the UK’s decade to maintain the supplies of sustainable biomass needed carbon emissions. for the UK’s largest power station to continue generating the “The announcement also comes at a time of great economic flexible and reliable renewable power for millions of UK homes uncertainty for our country. We at GBRf remain committed to and businesses. This deal is critical to Drax’s global biomass getting the UK economy back on track and having worked with supply chain and another step on its journey to negative Drax over the last few months during testing times I know we will emissions. continue to work closely in the months and years to come as we Drax supplies 11% of the UK’s renewable electricity. Using emerge from the Covid-19 crisis.” sustainable biomass instead of coal at Drax Power Station has Mike Maudsley, UK Portfolio Generation Director at Drax said: reduced emissions by more than 80% and helped the UK power “GBRf’s rail deliveries are a critical part of our global supply system decarbonise faster than any other country in Europe. chain for sustainable biomass that supports thousands of jobs Under the terms of the contract, GBRf will run all of Drax tonnage and has delivered economic growth across the north of England, from the Ports of Tyne and Liverpool to Drax Power Station. while supplying renewable electricity to millions of homes and businesses. The partnership between GBRf and Drax dates back to 2010 when GBRf began moving biomass by rail from the Port of Tyne. “We’re very pleased to extend our existing contract with GBRf Originally, GBRf used wagons that had been converted from for another five years and we’re looking forward to continuing to coal hoppers by adding lids and these remain in use under the work with the team.” • new contract. As Drax converted more of its coal units at the power station to sustainable biomass, Drax invested in new
their business and share their videos as widely as possible. Support the RFG’s new We would especially encourage members to use the opportunity, as more customers and suppliers go online YouTube Channel to research freight haulage and the rail freight community.
The Rail Freight Group (RFG) is still on the hunt for rail Please contact James Falkner at [email protected] freight focused promotional and campaign videos to and remember to send through your MP4 files directly, not host on its first dedicated YouTube channel. just a link. We would be eager to hear from anyone looking to promote
Back in the summer Freightliner named after the pandemic subsides. It said that Freightliner names its newly acquired and liveried electric naming the locomotive ‘Over the Rainbow’ locomotive 90014 ‘Over the Rainbow’ would serve as a reminder of the incredibly new electric loco in in recognition of key workers. valuable contribution key workers have recognition of key made across many sectors. It said it wanted to acknowledge the workers sustained effort of key workers throughout The ceremony took place at Freightliner’s the spring/summer and to also recognise Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Crewe. • the vital role they will continue to play long 12 Sep 2020
Westminster Update - JR Consulting
support those measures, just as we supported lockdown in More risks to March and the more recent local lockdowns. Although we have fierce criticism of the way the Government are handling this the network pandemic… the national interest lies in clear communications and cross-party support”. countered by However he noted that “Families will be… worried that the Gov- ernment do not have a clear strategy. One day, people are en- starting to couraged to work in the office; in fact, more than encouraged— they were openly challenged by the Prime Minister for not doing implement the so. Today, they are told the opposite.” Williams Review Transport Secretary Grant Shapps perhaps anticipated these additional risks to rail recovery, in the timing of his initial activ- By Jonathan Roberts, Managing Director, JR Consulting. ity to implement the Williams Review. Effective from Monday 21st September, Ministers ended 24 years of rail franchising, an action billed as the first step in bringing Britain’s fragmented The latest Government announcements on Tuesday 22nd network back together. September about further restraint because of Covid, cast a shadow on the slow recovery of passenger rail travel which The Department for Transport said “The new system will cre- had begun in June, and had recovered to approximately ate a simpler, more effective structure and will take shape over 30-35% of pre-Covid levels by mid-September. the coming months. The first stage, today, is moving operators onto transitional contracts to prepare the ground for the new rail- The accompanying graph of daily usage of tube stations at Lon- way. Franchising is replaced with more demanding Emergency don termini mirrors closely the use of the main line services, Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs). These address the although the data only shows Oyster and Contactless travel, not continuing impact of the pandemic on the railway and delivers magnetic or paper tickets. First Group has confirmed circa 30% on a government commitment to replace the current franchising of pre-pandemic levels. Recovery of rail travel is less in some system.” conurbations. “These management agreements have tougher performance targets and lower management fees. The new contracts allow us to make an early start on key reforms, including requiring op- erators to co-ordinate better with each other and driving down the railways’ excessive capital costs. Management fees will now be a maximum of 1.5% of the cost base of the franchise before the pandemic began. The ERMAs are a transitional stage to the new system, the biggest change to the railways in a quarter of a century.” In relation to Covid, “under current public health guidance, the intention is also for operators to run an almost full service to en- sure there is space to help passengers travel safely… Today’s announcement, which has [Keith Williams’] full support, is the prelude to a white paper which will respond to his recommenda- tions. The white paper will be published when the course of the Combined with the other Covid-suppression measures, includ- pandemic becomes clearer.” ing 10pm hospitality closure and deferral of business confer- Mr Shapps said: “Until passenger numbers return, significant ences, exhibitions and large sporting events, these actions will taxpayer support will still be needed, including under the transi- cap public transport travel growth for the next few months. It will tional contracts announced today... But the reforms will enable inevitably put greater pressure on rail network finances, already substantial medium and longer-term savings for taxpayers. The under huge strain. model of privatisation adopted 25 years ago has seen significant Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday: “Yesterday, on rises in passenger numbers, but this pandemic has proven that the advice of the four chief medical officers, the UK’s covid alert it is no longer working… It is time to get Britain back on track.” • level was raised from 3 to 4—the second most serious stage— meaning that transmission is high or rising exponentially... we are acting on the principle that a stitch in time saves nine… un- less we palpably make progress, we should assume that the restrictions I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.” “The Government will introduce new restrictions in England, carefully judged to achieve the maximum reduction in the R number with the minimum damage to lives and livelihoods. Contact I stress that this is by no means a return to the full lockdown Jonathan Roberts of March. We are not issuing a general instruction to stay at Managing Director home.” However “we are once again asking office workers who JR Consulting can work from home to do so.” 07545 641 204 [email protected] Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer commented: “it is right that the www.jrc.org.uk Prime Minister is announcing further measures today, and we 13 Planning Update - Burges Salmon
capacity) could form part of this support. Planning Update The draft NDF also sets out pre-assessed areas for large-scale By Stephen Humphreys wind development – in these areas there will be a presumption Associate in favour of consent for large-scale on-shore wind developments Burges Salmon (see the current wording of policy 17 of the document and the decision making framework for these schemes set out in policy 18). This policy is to ensure that the ambitious targets set by the Welsh Government will be achieved on time (e.g. to have reached 70% electricity generation from renewables by 2020). The NDF is scheduled to be formally adopted in early 2021 and it will be called “Future Wales – The National Plan 2040”. In this month’s article we look at a number of developments in the world of planning, major infrastructure and rail. As you’ll be aware, we’ve not had any real indication of when The end of rail franchising the Williams Review will be published; a question to the In the July newsletter we noted that COVID-19 may prove to be a Rail Minister at the beginning of September was adequately catalyst for the much debated departure from the rail franchising vague and blamed Covid for the delay. Nevertheless, system. Fast-forward two months and Government Ministers the preemptive announcement on rail franchises has have ended rail franchising after 24 years. confirmed what many suspected would be the position and the Government has made a number of announcements Since 23 March 2020, train operators have relied upon on how this will work in practice. Before discussing that emergency measures agreements (EMAs), which were though, there has been an interesting development in introduced by the Government to support the rail industry as Welsh planning policy. part of the Government’s COVID-19 response. These EMAs were due to expire on 20 September 2020 and, on 21 September 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that rail Future Wales – The National Plan 2040 franchising has been replaced with a new contracts-based system, with rail operators entering into emergency recovery We have reported before on the significant planning changes management agreements (ERMAs). According to the DfT, the coming into effect in Wales through the introduction of the first purpose of these ERMAs is twofold: to address the continuing National Development Framework (NDF) for Wales. Usually, a impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the railway (operators have Council’s local development plan (and the policies within it) forms been asked to run an almost full service despite a significant the statutory development plan against which new development reduction in passenger travel) and to deliver on the Government is assessed, together with other material considerations being commitment to replace the franchising system. relevant. Wales is following Scotland’s lead and is giving the Welsh Government the chance to create national policies which Under the terms of the ERMAs, the rail companies will receive have the status of the statutory development plan. This means a maximum management fee of 1.5% of the pre-pandemic that national policy takes primacy (together with regional and operating costs. The DfT has stressed that the contracts local policies) in the decision making process. The NDF will be contain tougher performance targets. ERMAs will run for up the highest tier of development plan and strategic development to 18 months and upon expiry will bring current franchises to plans (at a regional level) and local development plans will an end. need to be in conformity with the NDF. The only issue to date The change has been endorsed by Keith Williams, who led the has been the delay in the Welsh Government producing and independent review into the railway sector (the Williams Review) adopting the document. and is said to be the prelude to a white paper which will respond The NDF was due to be published in August 2020 but its to the recommendations of the Williams Review. According to publish date was pushed back due to COVID-19, with the Williams, the contracts “kickstart a process of reform that will Welsh Government saying it needed to prioritise its response ensure our railways are entirely focused on the passenger, to the pandemic. On 21 September 2020 the draft NDF and with a simpler, more effective system that works in their best accompanying documents were put before the Senedd (Welsh interest”. Parliament) for a 60 day scrutiny period. DCO update The draft NDF sets the direction for development in Wales from The latest Development Consent Order (DCO) to be granted, 2020 to 2040. It focuses on cities and large towns as the main on 7 August 2020, was for the construction and operation of development areas, in order to channel development pressures VPI Immingham OCGT, a new Open Cycle Gas Turbine Power away from the countryside. The following three main urban Station of up to 299 megawatts gross output and associated clusters are identified in the draft: development including gas and electrical connections in • Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys; Immingham, Lincolnshire. Somewhat surprisingly, given the recent delays to DCO applications, the decision was delivered • Swansea Bay and Llanelli; and on time. • Wrexham and Deeside. The next couple of months are set to bring us a number of long awaited DCO decisions, including, amongst others, a decision on the A303 Stonehenge DCO application (due 13 November According to the draft NDF, new large-scale employment 2020), Highways England’s A303 Sparkford to Ilchester project opportunities and housing growth will occur predominantly in (due 20 November 2020) and possibly a decision on the Wylfa these urban areas. Newydd Nuclear Power Station (delayed from October 2019 Policy 10 in the document focusses on a need to support and due on 30 September 2020). We will of course provide you strategic gateways and maintain international connectivity. This with an update on the progress of these decisions. is mainly focussed on supporting existing airports and ports, Continued over the page. though associated infrastructure (including additional rail freight 14 Sep 2020
Plans for the Wylfa project have now been pulled by Hitachi after Contact they announced on 15 September that they will be walking away Stephen Humphreys, from the £20bn development, citing funding issues. A decision Associate on the project is still due however, as the DCO application has Burges Salmon not been formally withdrawn. This is clearly another major blow [email protected] for Wales economically as it was the largest development ever www.burges-salmon.com proposed in the country and had the prospect of securing many jobs for years to come. It also taints the Welsh Government’s “open for business” mantra as it is yet another major project proposed in recent years which will not be delivered (along with the M4 relief road and Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon). •
‘implement more appropriate techniques and equipment RFG welcomes utilising knowledge and experience gained from our earlier projects in order to deliver and secure greater efficiencies’. Scotland’s rail services As the plan sets out, there are significant prospects for the creation of more skilled, sustainable jobs in Scotland in the Decarbonisation Action direct provision of electrification as well as in the supply of rolling stock and advanced technologies in the design of Plan alternative traction methods to complement electrification of the network. Transport for Scotland has published its Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan. The plan states that the next National Planning Framework (currently in preparation) must contribute to a range of The plan focuses on decarbonising transport through outcomes including meeting greenhouse gas emissions modal shift to rail, and decarbonising rail traction energy reduction targets and align with and facilitate a wide range through the removal of diesel passenger trains from the of Scottish Government policy and strategies. Taking forward Scottish network by 2035. Transport for Scotland will seek to the action plan ‘requires support from – and should be maximise all opportunities for modal shift to rail from heavy reflected in – our land-use planning framework’. goods vehicles. Options for electrification of freight sidings, if appropriate, and terminal requirements will be reviewed The plan sets out other significant advantages of electrically during the design phases. hauled or bi-mode rail freight in addition to the environmental benefits, these include: The plan also expects and encourages ‘all constituent parts of the rail industry, including Network Rail, train and freight • faster acceleration to reduce journey times (crucial operating companies and rolling stock providers, to produce for rail freight’s competitiveness with road freight) and long-term plans to achieve both interim and long-term targets improve rail capacity for all rail users towards broader industry-wide decarbonisation’. • increased modal shift to rail – preventing lorry miles and reducing road congestion Around 45% of Scottish rail freight journeys are currently • increased efficiency from removing the electrically hauled from origin to destination. The plan aims unpredictability and expense of diesel costs. The to electrify, on average, 130 single track kilometres per year increased payload potential also reduces overall in order to achieve the 2035 target. As a significant proportion industry costs of freight is cross-border, the plan commits to working with • productivity gains (more freight carried per path) the UK Government to align electrification plans so that key – would not come at the expense of performance or freight routes from England to Scotland have fully electrified capacity; and lines especially to/from key English ports. • electric freight locomotives can be quieter than diesel locomotives those living near the railway. The plan notes that there is known latent demand for rail freight as environmental concerns are beginning to change “The RFG welcomes this clear plan to decarbonise the logistics choices of Scottish producers. For example, Scotland’s railways which clearly sets out the benefits of there is demand for an additional four trains a day (in each electric traction for rail freight and Scotland. The plan will direction) to both Aberdeenshire and Inverness-shire. As further improve rail freight’s environmental credentials and each freight train can remove up to 76 HGVs from the road, its competitiveness with road freight. We especially welcome these additional services could provide a potential maximum the statement that the needs of rail should be reflected in the reduction in road transport of 1216 lorries. next National Planning Framework. The only note of caution is the statement that electrification of some freight only lines The RFG welcomes the plan’s commitment to a long-term may be subject to review. Certainty is key for private sector programme of electrification, rather than an intermittent investment. Transport for Scotland should clarify the details schedule with peaks and troughs, to ‘provide a high degree of such review.” • of investment certainty for the industry so that the supply chain can plan, recruit and make resources ready with confidence. In doing so we hope to achieve a constant work bank and engender confidence within the rail sector’. The plans intends that this will enable the rail supply industry to
15 Sep 2020 Ports and businesses across the North of England have been Transpennine freight must working with RFG to make the case for improved rail freight links on the Transpennine routes. New rail freight services will support see accelerated delivery post-Covid recovery, and help develop new trade routes post Brexit, delivering economic growth in the region. By removing The Rail Freight Group (RFG) has welcomed Government’s hundreds of HGV movements from the road network, rail freight announcement that improved freight capacity and will also help deliver the green recovery, reducing carbon and air electrification is to be developed as part of the Transpennine quality emissions. Route Upgrade. Mike Hogg, RFG Northern Representative, said: “We are pleased With a further £589m now committed to the project, an Integrated to see Government has listened to businesses who have clearly Rail Plan will consider how freight capacity can be provided as set out their aspirations to use more rail freight as part of their part of the core scheme. distribution networks. This project is vital in ensuring that those companies can deliver for the economy of the North, whilst also However, with the plan not due till December, RFG are urging decarbonising their transport links.” Government to ensure that freight enhancements to deliver capacity and gauge clearance are accelerated to ensure they Maggie Simpson RFG Director-General, said: “Businesses can be delivered as part of the already committed scheme. Most across the North are biting at the bit to integrate rail into their of these enhancements have already been studied and scoped distribution networks. Today’s announcement is a welcome step in concept. forward, but Government must keep the pressure on and move from development to confirmed delivery as soon as possible.” •
tracks, creating thousands of extra seats and space for more HS2 sets out its three pillars local, regional and freight services on the existing network. It could become the new low-carbon alternative for long distance of Capacity, Cutting Carbon travel, reducing the need for car and domestic plane journeys, and Better Connectivity and could play a vital role in delivering the Government’s goal of Britain becoming net zero carbon by 2050. A new video has been released to highlight HS2’s green credentials and position the project as ‘Britain’s new low- Considered by some to be the most important economic carbon, high-speed railway’. It focuses on the business case regeneration project in decades. HS2 is set to provide better around positioning High Speed 2 as the solution to three key connectivity and will act as a catalyst for growth and help level up the country, boosting growth in the Midlands and North, creating new problems facing the nation. These are capacity, carbon and connectivity. jobs and opening up leisure opportunities for millions of people. •
HS2 is of course expected to add vital capacity to the existing Click here to watch the video and for more detail. rail network by placing high-speed services on their own pair of
porcelain, as well as being used in the network. DB Cargo UK making of products like paper, rubber and paint. DB Cargo UK’s Head of Sales Roger secures new Neary said: “We are proud of our long- deal with Imerys DB Cargo UK operates two separate standing relationship with Imerys and traffic flows for Imerys – from look forward to continuing to provide DB Cargo UK has been awarded a Goonbarrow and Branch to Fowey them with high quality services in the new, two-year contract to transport Docks and from Cornwall to Cliffe Vale South West and beyond. Rail freight china clay for Imerys. in Stoke. Every week it transports in provides a faster, more efficient and the region of 7,200 tonnes of china environmentally-friendly method of The soft white clay is mined in clay for Imerys in covered hopper transporting materials of this kind, Cornwall and is an essential ingredient wagons – this removes around 11,000 reducing congestion on the UK’s in the manufacture of china and lorries a year off Cornwall’s road already congested road network”. •
16 HS2 Construction underway creating 22,000 new jobs On 4 September, HS2 Ltd announced the formal start of construction on the project, highlighting the large number of jobs the project will create across the country.
Earlier this year, on 15 April, the Department for Transport (DfT) gave approval for HS2 Ltd to issue Notice to Proceed (NtP) to the four Main Works Civil Contractors (MWCCs) working on the project to commence full detailed design and construction of Phase One of the HS2 railway (the route from London – West Midlands).
HS2’s main works contractor for the West Midlands, the Balfour Beatty VINCI joint venture (BBV), along with its supply chain partners, has said it expects to be one of the biggest recruiters in the West Midlands over the next two years, with up to 7,000 skilled jobs required to complete its section of the HS2 route. The EKFB Joint Venture (Eiffage, Kier, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial) – building the section from the Long Itchington Wood site in Warwickshire south to the Chiltern tunnel portals, has said it will recruit over 4,000 roles in the next two years, many based in Milton Keynes, as work ramps up in the area.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “HS2 is at the heart of our plans to build back better – and with construction now formally underway, it’s set to create around 22,000 new jobs. As the spine of our country’s transport network, the project will be vital in boosting connectivity between our towns and cities. But HS2’s transformational potential goes even further. By creating hundreds of apprenticeships and thousands of skilled jobs, HS2 will fire up economic growth and help to re- balance opportunity across this country for years to come. The move to construction also heralded a ‘jobs boom’ on the project, demonstrating the value HS2 is bringing to the economy many years before it is complete, particularly in the post-Covid economic environment.
HS2’s Tier One construction partners based in Greater London: Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS JV), Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA (BBVS), Align JV and Mace Dragados JV, confirmed that they will collectively recruit over 10,000 new jobs as HS2 gears up for major construction. HS2 Ltd itself is already directly recruiting for 500 new roles over the next three months, with the majority based in Birmingham, as the project moves into the construction phase. The forecast jobs boost is a clear sign of the key part that HS2 is already playing in supporting Britain’s post-coronavirus economic recovery. •
17 Sep 2020
2045. I am personally encouraged by the proactive Far North of Scotland collaboration between the rail and timber industries throughout this trial so far and I look forward to seeing further timber trial projects such as this which can only be good news for both our economy and our environment.” Victa Railfreight are pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Freight Fund Grant by Transport Scotland Matthew Thompson of Munro Harvesting said – “Munro which is enabling it to undertake a comprehensive trial Harvesting are excited to supply the timber and work of the movement by rail of timber, primarily from forests alongside everyone involved in this project. We are committed in Caithness to the Norbord Plant at Dalcross near to improving the image of commercial forestry by becoming Inverness during August and September. more environmentally friendly. Projects such as this will help to promote reinvestment in the North of Scotland.’’ The objective of the trial is to re-establish rail as a potential means of transporting timber from forests to the main users Frank Roach, Rail officer for HITRANS, said “HITRANS are of timber, to reduce the pressure on fragile rural roads and to grateful that Victa has come forward to co-ordinate the rail help reduce carbon emissions. effort and we are delighted to have been able to provide active support and additional funding.” Victa is leading a cross industry effort, with active support from Network Rail and Highlands and Islands Transport Anne MacKenzie, Senior Freight Manager for Network Rail Partnership (HITRANS), building on their previous pioneering Scotland said “Network Rail are committed to supporting Branchliner work in this sector. Wagons are being supplied colleagues in the railfreight industry to meet the Scottish by DB Cargo and train operation, including locomotives and Government’s rail freight growth targets and we are pleased drivers, is being provided by West Coast Railways (WCR). to see this co-operative venture getting underway.” This team effort is the culmination of activity following on the Timber by Rail Summit convened by the Scottish Government Roger Neary, Head of Sales at DB Cargo UK, said: “For a Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism - Fergus long time we have promoted the environmental benefits of Ewing in the spring of 2019. rail freight over road and this project is a great example of that. We are very pleased to play our part in it.” The main flow will be from the freight terminal at Georgemas Junction in Caithness to Inverness freight yard for onward James Shuttleworth, Commercial Manager of West Coast delivery by road to Norbord, with timber coming from Munro Railways said “WCR is very pleased undertake the train Harvesting. But other potential loading points may be used, operation and to be part of this project.” once the Georgemas trial has become established. Ruaridh Macintyre of Norbord said “Norbord Europe are Neil Sime, Managing Director of Victa Railfreight, said “Victa delighted to be involved in this trial which will aid the rail Railfreight is delighted to be able to lead this cross-industry industry develop the capability to deliver raw materials into effort to re-establish the movement of timber by rail from our site at Inverness whilst reducing environmental impact forests in Scotland to the main production plants. We greatly and decreasing the number of roundwood lorries using the appreciate the funding from Transport Scotland without roads in the far north which has obvious benefits to local which this trial would not be happening. The collaboration communities. Norbord hopes that this is the beginning of with parties in both the rail and timber industries has been a new era of the use of rail transport in the timber industry.” excellent and very timely given the publication last week of the Scottish Decarbonisation Policy, for which modal shift to Jim Welsh, the owner of the Georgemas freight terminal rail is a key target”. said, “We are delighted to see timber being loaded at our facility at Georgemas Junction and hope that this is the start Bill Reeve (Director of Rail at Transport Scotland) said “The of more widespread use of this important local facility.” • Scottish Government has a strong record of supporting rail freight. It recognises the environmental benefits that modal Transport Scotland have also released their press release shift of freight from road to rail can make in terms of reduced which can be found on their website. emissions and improved air quality, and the important contributory role rail freight makes towards the Scottish Government’s Net Zero target for all greenhouse gases by 18 Sep 2020 Winvic appointed to Freightliner invests in 75 new deliver DIRFT 3 terminal handling machines Winvic Construction has secured a £29m contract to Freightliner and Pentalver, subsidiaries of Genesee & deliver a new state-of-the-art intermodal Rail Freight Wyoming Inc. (G&W), have made a significant investment in Terminal at DIRFT in Northamptonshire. 75 new lifting and handling machines to be deployed at their container terminals throughout the UK. The scheme is to form part of Prologis’ extension to its premier logistics park, DIRFT III. It comprises significant earthworks The initial batch of equipment was recently delivered, with the including 9km of rail track networked to existing terminal and the additional 40 machines to follow in the coming months. The West Coast Mainline, and three complex bridges. new machines include Hyster reachstackers, Terberg terminal tractors, and Hyster empty container handlers and are part of Once competed in summer 2021, the terminal will be capable of the Big Trucks product offering from Briggs Equipment (Briggs), receiving up to 24, 775m-long trains every day and the concrete which feature some of the latest technology, innovations and yard will provide space for the storage of some 460 containers. safety enhancements. The Winvic design team and its consultants have designed the terminal slab to withstand the weight of containers stacked four Mike Parkin, Briggs Equipment’s Head of Ports, Terminals and high and loaded to 21 tonnes each. Winvic will be constructing Big Trucks commented: “The importance of the work carried out the five-track, 800m-long siding and installing a Rail Traverser.• at Freightliner and Pentalver locations is far-reaching, with many businesses and industries dependent on a swift and flawless operation. These customers need to know that their goods will be transported safely and on time.” •
Rail freight commemorates Battle of Britain
GBRailfreight (GBRf) has named its latest named locomotive ‘Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary’ to commemorate our Royal Air Force (RAF) who bravely fought for our freedom during the great event and to remember those who sacrificed their lives for their nation.
Freight Rail Usage and Performance 2020-21
Freight rail usage and performance stats have been published from ORR. Traffic during the first quarter of 2020-21 was widely impacted by Covid-19. Total freight moved was 3.16bn net tonne km in 2020-21 Q1.
International traffic saw a 40% reduction in freight moved compared to the same quarter last year, falling to its lowest quarterly level since 2007-08. Construction was hardest hit, falling by 0.5 billion net tonne km compared to the same quarter last year. Domestic intermodal has the largest share of freight moved (42%), but has also seen a large fall; a reduction of 0.4 bn net tonne km compared to the same quarter last year.
The proportion of freight trains arriving within 15 minutes reached an all-time high of 97.3%.
Click here to download the statistics here. 19 RFG Events Calendar 2020
Securing growth in a changing sector: the impacts of rail reform, devolution and decarbonisation.
With proposed changes to the rail sector, ensure you are up to date on what reforms would mean for the freight industry. This annual conference for the rail freight community will provide you with the latest updates on the changes to the industry, as well as the opportunity to network with senior rail freight professionals. Attend to explore the biggest issues and the opportunities for the sectors, including a focus on devolution and decarbonisation.
Click here to register to attend.
RFG Online AGM and webinar on HS2 materials by rail programme 11 November | Webinar
The RFG Annual General Meeting will be held online and will be followed by a webinar focussing on the HS2 materials by rail programme. Speakers will discuss the work programme, which has started this year, and the steps ahead as the project develops. Any questions can be submitted to [email protected]
Click here to register to attend.
The webinar is for RFG members only. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss membership.
Powering Class 66 freight locomotives with zero-emission steam 11 November @ 1pm | Webinar Join us for a members-only webinar exploring the work of Steamology Ltd – the recipient of First of a Kind 2020 innovation funding.
Matt Candy will explain how Steamology is developing high power zero-emission steam turbine electric solutions to offer an alternative to diesel for Class 66 freight locomotives. This technology is intended to extend the life of diesel engine rolling stock life beyond 2040. Steamology’s high power turbines are: - Energy dense - Long life - Cost-effective
The webinar will be illustrated with photos of the dynamometer, the turbine design and early manufacture.
Register to attend here.
For more details on our events programme, please visit our website www.rfg.org.uk/events. RFG SPONSOR PARTNERS 2020
The RFG’s Sponsor Partners provide additional support for our activities and events throughout the year. The companies involved in the scheme represent a wide range of key stakeholders and we would like to thank each of them for their commitment and ongoing support. Sep 2020 Teesside secures first plant for alternative fuel project Building on its extensive work at Port of Middlesbrough, AV Dawson’s port facility in Teesside has been announced as the first site for a revolutionary new alternative fuel project.
Waste Knot Energy (Waste Knot) has Photo Caption: L to R: Ed Simpson, fund manager of BSIF and Investment Director – New secured funding from Gresham House’s Energy at Gresham House, Roger Ferguson, Waste Knot, Tony Green, Waste Knot, Craig Jones, Waste Knot. Gary Dawson, managing director - AV Dawson British Strategic Investment Fund (BSIF) to build its first fuel pelleting plant in at the site, this marks an important step redeveloping a whole area of our Middlesbrough. The plant will produce for the UK in developing infrastructure to Middlesbrough site to provide a tailored Waste Knot’s Green Knot branded pellets process its own waste and providing an solution for the customer that gives them using non-recyclable waste - otherwise alternative to landfill. a purpose-built facility with immediate destined for landfill or for another country’s access to the quayside, enabling the waste facilities. The high-calorific value of Once completed, the plant will create efficient production and export of pellets the pellets makes them a reliable, low- more than 20 full time jobs and revenue around the world. Once the processing emission bulk alternative to coal and pet- within the region. It is estimated the plant facility is operational, we will be providing coke for energy-intensive industries - such will manufacture in excess of 240,000 the ongoing logistics; loading vessels on as cement and steel. tonnes of fuel pellets each year, which a weekly basis to keep up with 24-hour will be transported within the UK by rail production schedule. This project is an AV Dawson’s Middlesbrough facility was or exported by ship. The plant is being exciting step forward in the expansion of selected as the site for the first plant due developed on a brownfield site owned by our port facilities on the River Tees. It is to its quayside location on the south side AV Dawson. part of our long-term plans to move into of the River Tees, providing a strategic renewable and recyclable energy markets; entrance point to serve the UK and Gary Dawson, Managing Director at supporting our diversification strategy and beyond. With construction now underway AV Dawson says: “We are completely our environmental aspirations.” •
Supplying excellent marketing, communications and public relations support to the rail freight sector.
www.railfreightpr.com Guest Article: Intercity Railfreight On track for growth: Express freight pioneers expand 125mph same-day delivery network
Responding to unprecedented growth, low-carbon high- speed logistics operator has announced a major expansion of its same-day 125mph delivery network. After a decade of success with time-sensitive transport of ambient and temperature-controlled traffic, and the recent achievement of ISO9001 certification, ICRF has secured agreement from UK train operating companies to significantly expand capacity and reach. ICRF now has access to more than a hundred 125 mph daily rail services across the East Midlands, Great Western and CrossCountry franchise networks, providing fast and frequent services between city centres, across an area from Aberdeen to London and Penzance – covering a number of traditionally difficult parts of the country for road-based couriers to reach. InterCity’s door-to-door service seamlessly connects local couriers using electric vehicles and cargo bikes with a fleet of electric and diesel-electric high-speed trains – with some routes now offering a 100% electric supply chain. Shipments are tracked in real time from a central control tower with access expanding customer base. to a suite of rail industry data feeds. The rail services average “In 2016 the Rail Minster threw down the gauntlet to the freight 70mph between city centres, with over 97% arriving within 15 industry, stating that: One of the greatest challenges of our minutes of schedule. age is the emission of particulate matter from vehicles. This is not just a problem for future generations or far-away places. Particulates are here now, on our streets, already shortening lives. And one of the key contributors is road freight and the need to bring goods from out-of-town distribution centres into city centres. Yet our rail lines already reach into stations located in the heart of the city. Imagine if we could run electric freight trains into stations outside peak hours. Or run passenger trains that can be partly converted to carry freight. Goods could be offloaded onto electric vehicles, for distribution across the city. Let’s set ourselves the challenge of investing in new freight technology and joined up logistics. We have accepted that challenge and delivered a truly joined- up logistics service. With the support of a growing network Services have been proved in the most demanding of operating of passenger and freight train operating companies, and the conditions, carrying a wide range of goods, from life-saving continued encouragement from the Department for Transport, medical samples and treatments, to fresh and live seafood. The we are now going further. innovation secured a national rail industry award in 2017 for the Having proved the ability to carry the most time-critical first-to-market service. shipments faster, more reliably, more sustainably - and at The integrated offer of fast and frequent rail services, combined lower cost - than competing road-based couriers, we are now with low-emission local couriers, can transform same-day and extending the service offer, working with healthcare providers, next-day fulfilment services, allowing for a rapid on-demand leading retailers and carriers.” • “click, pick, pack and ship” model, replacing the current practice Click here for more on the project. of “buffering” shipments into larger overnight trunk loads and the struggle with meeting delivery schedules. Speaking about the latest developments, founder and Managing Director Jeff Screeton said: “One of the few positive outcomes of Contact the recent pandemic has been the opening up of the rail network Nick Gallop for fast and frequent delivery services, with train operators now Business Development able to accept anything from single shipments up to entire lorry- 07736 872582 loads. In our ten years of operations we have never experienced www.intercityrailfreight.com traffic growth on this scale, and with the help of our train operator and courier partners, we are responding in kind to our 23
Sep 2020 News in Brief
• Hupac has added new connections in response to growing demand for intermodal traffic connecting south-east Europe, increasing the frequency between Rotterdam and Vienna. The direct train connection three times m² project focuses squarely on the needs a week offers seamless Unveiling the wagon of the forwarding industry. The new wagon ongoing connection to can quickly and easily be adapted to specific Hungary (Budapest BILK), of tomorrow transportation requirements. That makes Turkey (Halkali), Romania rail freight more attractive and better able to (Ploiesti) and Bulgaria DB Cargo and VTG have unveiled a new compete with road haulage. wagon. The two partners to the m2 project (Stara Zagora). have spent the past 18 months designing He went on to say: “The new development and developing an innovative flat wagon. is all about multifunctionality and modularity. • European Parliament’s Having completed test runs that were The m2 solution is based on a set of modular plenary session has commenced in spring 2020, they are now building blocks that can align each wagon to the voted the Regulation on working to get the model licensed. individual needs of each customer. Depending establishing measures for on the intended purpose, four-axle flat wagons a sustainable rail market, Dr. Sigrid Nikutta, Member of the Management can be configured with loading lengths from in view of Covid-19, Board for Freight Transport at DB and CEO of 34.7ft to 74.3ft. into European law. The DB Cargo, said: “The m² we are developing is Regulation will allow the freight wagon of the future. The new system “Components such as bogies, wheelsets and Member States to waive gives us a variable platform that lets us flexibly brakes (block or disk brakes) can likewise be track access charges and swap superstructures, making rail freight even attuned to each given usage. Wagons can thus mark-ups applicable to kinder to the environment and more adaptable be optimized across a series of parameters freight trains. than ever. That also lets us respond much such as weight, mileage and cost. A broad faster to the needs of our customers.” selection of superstructures, too, ensures that • By the end of this decade, all kinds of goods can be carried.” • Dr. Heiko Fischer, CEO of VTG, added: “The digital automatic coupling should be the norm in Europe. That is the aim of the DAC4EU consortium. The Vectron Dual Mode locomotives will The first tests journeys DB Cargo locos be delivered with adaptations specifically are currently carried out designed for the range of services planned by with what are now still only go dual fuel DB Cargo. It has initially ordered 100 locos of prototypes, but this is only the 248 series. Deliveries will begin in 2023. DB Cargo is renewing its shunting and the beginning of what will mainline locomotive fleet with new dual- be step change for the As an alternative to conventional diesel, the mode locos. Manufacturer Siemens Mobility rail freight industry, says Vectron Dual Mode offers the best of two won the framework agreement for up to 400 Clemens Först, CEO at worlds. It operates purely in electric mode on units, representing an investment volume ÖBB Rail Cargo Group. electrified sections of the route to save fuel and of well over €1bn. Read the full article in reduce maintenance costs.” • Railfreight.com.
• Intermodal operator Kombiverkehr is increasing Contact the RFG Team: its services between Germany and Italy and • Maggie Simpson, Director General, 07737 007 957 offering and expanded • Phillippa O’Shea, Administration Manager, 07931 763 081 service. The number of • Yvonne Mulder, Project Manager, 07887 767 666 trains on the Hanover • James Falkner, Media Officer, 07753 271 110 – Verona route has • Robin Smith, Welsh Representative, 07968 488 905 increased from five to • Mike Hogg, North of England Representative, 07833 402 804 six weekly departures in both directions. Those RFG News is published by the Rail Freight Group, 7 Bury Place, London, WC1A. Tel: 020 3116 trains currently running 0007 [email protected]. www.rfg.org.uk. RFG welcomes comments, letters and short articles. between München-Riem Opinions expressed in these articles are of the author only. RFG News is published primarily for and the Melzo terminal will online distribution but we will continue to send hard copies to those readers who request them. RFG begin serving the Milano does not endorse the services of its advertisers. Smistamento terminal.
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