Railfreight

Isambard · 20-02-2018 10:05AM

L1011 wrote: »

Realistically no. Container business goes to Belview and will continue to do so. Complete reconstruction to add container docks, gantries etc wouldn't be viable

plus Rosslare could not accommodate the size of vessels that a freight service requires.

Losty Dublin · 20-02-2018 09:38PM

L1011 wrote: »

Realistically no. Container business goes to Belview and will continue to do so. Complete reconstruction to add container docks, gantries etc wouldn't be viable

Actually there are plans to redevelop and expand Rosslare. Quite when or if it ever comes to is another story

IE 222 · 20-02-2018 09:59PM

With the topic of traffic congestion coming up on political radars lately it would be interesting to see if any of the great problem solvers in Leinster House would even mention if better use of rail freight would help ease some of the congestion. I'm not suggestion a reduction in trucks will solve the issues but it would help.

Dublin port keeps growing but the roads around Dublin can't support much more growth. Should some shipping traffic be forced out of Dublin and transferred via rail from Cork or Waterford.

dowlingm · 22-02-2018 04:05PM

The other problem with Rosslare is getting a 201 there from either direction

Harcourt Street · 22-02-2018 04:35PM

Not entirely blocked are they? They can travel there in "emergencies" according to the Network Statement.

Adds: Well that was in the 2017 Network Statement, checking the 2018 Network Statement it directs you to the Weekly Circular for restrictions...

IE 222 · 22-02-2018 05:11PM

I presume their cleared to Gorey with the Belmond traveling down last year. They can work further south in an "emergency" so wouldn't require much to allow access and freight services will be speed restricted to 50mph anyway.

dowlingm · 22-02-2018 05:35PM

Harcourt Street wrote: »

Not entirely blocked are they? They can travel there in "emergencies" according to the Network Statement.

Adds: Well that was in the 2017 Network Statement, checking the 2018 Network Statement it directs you to the Weekly Circular for restrictions...

Emergencies isn't hauling 24 wagons behind them...

Even if Rosslare did add some LoLo capacity it still may not attract enough freight forwarder attention to justify running the max load factor trains that IE consider justify operating a service.

There was a ports study done in 2006 but presumably that is far out of date now.
http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/node/add/content-publication/Information%20Paper%20based%20on%20report%20of%20Fisher%20Associates%20consultants.pdf

andrewfaulk · 23-02-2018 06:40PM

dowlingm wrote: »

Emergencies isn't hauling 24 wagons behind them...

Even if Rosslare did add some LoLo capacity it still may not attract enough freight forwarder attention to justify running the max load factor trains that IE consider justify operating a service.

There was a ports study done in 2006 but presumably that is far out of date now.
http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/node/add/content-publication/Information%20Paper%20based%20on%20report%20of%20Fisher%20Associates%20consultants.pdf

18 is the max not 24, and I think even 18 would be a push on the Rosslare line.. plus it’s not gauge cleared so you would have to use the pockets for high cubes, so max would be 12 wagons..

IE don’t care about the load factor, they’ll charter a train to someone regardless of the load factor.. Whether that someone can then make the service pay is what decides whether it will happen or not..
And Rosslare would be a hard slog to make pay at 12 wagons..

The report is well out of date at this stage but what it does highlight is how the number of ports handling unit cargo is Ireland is reducing..
From the list it has handling unit cargo, three at least no longer do

Drogheda(Lo/Lo and Ro/Ro)
Limerick(Lo/Lo)
Dun Laoghaire(Ro/Ro)

So if the trend in the past 12 years is for consolidation, it would be going against that trend
for Rosslare to start handling Lo/Lo..

roundymac · 25-02-2018 01:32PM

Was'nt there trials last year with 24 wagons, what was the outcome from those?

Jamie2k9 · 25-02-2018 03:32PM

roundymac wrote: »

Was'nt there trials last year with 24 wagons, what was the outcome from those?

Yes and there was one planned last month but not sure if it went ahead. These things take a lot of time to progress.

andrewfaulk · 25-02-2018 03:51PM

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Yes and there was one planned last month but not sure if it went ahead. These things take a lot of time to progress.

None planned for last month, next one is 2 weeks time but with 18 wagons only..

The tests have been delayed a couple of times by a few issues but the 4 remaining should hopefully be easy enough to progress

Jamie2k9 · 25-02-2018 03:57PM

andrewfaulk wrote: »

None planned for last month, next one is 2 weeks time but with 18 wagons only..

The tests have been delayed a couple of times by a few issues but the 4 remaining should hopefully be easy enough to progress

Your right, could of sworn I saw one in a recent circular but have checked an no. Is the change to 18 going to be the new proposed size and whats the status with the timber.

andrewfaulk · 25-02-2018 04:22PM

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Your right, could of sworn I saw one in a recent circular but have checked an no. Is the change to 18 going to be the new proposed size and whats the status with the timber.

That’s 18 container flats so at the current limit but the info is required to provide info on how the trains perform now versus how the 27 and 24 wagon trials performed..

No Idea on timber lengths, in theory they could operate at 14 now and still be shorter than 18 flats or 12 CPWs..

Jamie2k9 · 25-02-2018 04:30PM

andrewfaulk wrote: »

That’s 18 container flats so at the current limit but the info is required to provide info on how the trains perform now versus how the 27 and 24 wagon trials performed..

No Idea on timber lengths, in theory they could operate at 14 now and still be shorter than 18 flats or 12 CPWs..

Yes 18 the current limit, I knew this as well and still asked the stupid question.

26-02-2018 10:59PM

I wasn't sure whether to put this here or "train porn" but a good insight into the "modernisation" of reaifreight in the UK.

Well, before Beeching chopped off all the secondary routes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duoq7esgf5s

GM228 · 28-05-2018 07:55PM

081 arrived into Ballina this evening with the DFDS liner, bringing the curtain to a close on that operation.

h.gricer · 28-05-2018 08:34PM

GM228 wrote: »

081 arrived into Ballina this evening with the DFDS liner, bringing the curtain to a close on that operation.

Not sure it's the final curtain, rumour has it could be possibly one more next week.
Regards
hg

Del.Monte · 28-05-2018 08:53PM

Won't be long now until it's just the Tara Mines traffic.

Jamie2k9 · 28-05-2018 08:55PM

h.gricer wrote: »

Not sure it's the final curtain, rumour has it could be possibly one more next week.
Regards
hg

Ends tomorrow apparently.

tabbey · 28-05-2018 09:18PM

GM228 wrote: »

081 arrived into Ballina this evening with the DFDS liner, bringing the curtain to a close on that operation.

All good things come to an end, but this was unexpected.

Has the DFDS traffic transferred to road, or did a factory close? Was it Coca Cola?

Is there other freight traffic to / from Waterford? or is it the end for the Belvue "siding"?

h.gricer · 28-05-2018 09:56PM

tabbey wrote: »

All good things come to an end, but this was unexpected.

Has the DFDS traffic transferred to road, or did a factory close? Was it Coca Cola?

Is there other freight traffic to / from Waterford? or is it the end for the Belvue "siding"?

https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2018/0528/966660-waterford-port/

Jamie2k9 · 28-05-2018 10:07PM

tabbey wrote: »

All good things come to an end, but this was unexpected.

Has the DFDS traffic transferred to road, or did a factory close? Was it Coca Cola?

Is there other freight traffic to / from Waterford? or is it the end for the Belvue "siding"?

Timber but not to Belivew. They line is bran new and mos of the signals area as well so I can't see it been takeout out of use anytime soon.

tabbey · 28-05-2018 10:19PM

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

They line is bran new and mos of the signals area as well so I can't see it been takeout out of use anytime soon.

I hope not but they did not wait long before closing the freight yard at North Esk, Cork.

Jamie2k9 · 28-05-2018 10:23PM

tabbey wrote: »

I hope not but they did not wait long before closing the freight yard at North Esk, Cork.

They don't own Belview.

Stephen15 · 28-05-2018 10:26PM

So is that the end of container traffic on the IE network?

davidlacey · 28-05-2018 11:05PM

Stephen15 wrote: »

So is that the end of container traffic on the IE network?

IWT still there,

davidlacey · 28-05-2018 11:17PM

I was going to stay going quiet but I am going to rant.

This is just another example of the governments lack of interest in Irish railfreight.

Let's not forget...

Major Freight services lost includes

Ammonia Trains from Shelton Abbey, Wicklow – Cork (due to closure of fertiliser plant)
Bagged Cement Nationwide
Beer Kegs Nationwide
Bell Liner from Mayo – Waterford
Gypsum from Kingscourt – Dublin
Bulk Cement from Platin (near Drogheda) and Castlemungret (near Limerick) cement factories to cement silos at Sligo Quay, Athenry, Cabra (Dublin), Cork, Waterford, Tullamore and Belfast
Other losses included: Liners, Fertilisers, Grain, Tar, Scrap Metal, Molasses and Coal. The last bulk cement flow to operate in Ireland (Castlemungret – Waterford) ended in December 2009 along with the Kilmastulla Quarry – Castlemungret Shale traffic, despite making profits in the region of €1.3 million in 2006.

Yes some unavoidable but some certainly avoidable with adequate subsidy. How do the Irish government think we will drop our greenhouse gas emissions without an effective and busy railfreight sector? What encouragement do IE have to chase new business when they are up against a totally upto date road network which was disproportionately funded during the boom while railfreight was left to rot.

I used to think IE were to blame but the government have no foresight when it comes to railfreight, this afterall is a semi state company. We can all give the but we are only a small Ireland excuse but railfreight works if the infrastructure and want is there. Look at Tara mines!

I just think today's development is ridiculous, totally avoidable and just another shambles in this country which is pro road and pro haulier.

Stephen15 · 29-05-2018 12:22AM

davidlacey wrote: »

IWT still there,

Forgot about them.

It seems freight trains here in Ireland go slower than passenger trains. Are freight trains made to go slow down through stations here in Ireland? I rememeber standing on platforms on the continent and when a freight train would pass through it would nearly blow you away never remember getting this effect in Ireland by passing freight trains.

Jamie2k9 · 29-05-2018 12:22AM

Stephen15 wrote: »

Forgot about them.

It seems freight trains here in Ireland go slower than passenger trains. Are freight trains made to go slow down through stations here in Ireland? I rememeber standing on platforms on the continent and when a freight train would pass through it would nearly blow you away never remember getting this effect in Ireland by passing freight trains.

50mph is the maximum speed.

Stephen15 · 29-05-2018 12:25AM

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

50mph is the maximum speed.

That's riddiculously slow. Why can't freight go as fast as passenger traffic it can on the continent.

Railfreight

Comments