Additional capacity for rail freight services must be accommodated on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) according to a statement made by EWS.
Greater capacity is needed to meet the projected demand by industry for rail freight services on the ECML route, which is one of Europe’s busiest mixed use railways, carrying hundreds of freight trains each day.
EWS, Britain’s largest rail freight operator, will demonstrate this need in its response to Network Rail’s consultation on its capacity study into the ECML for the Office of Rail Regulation. The consultation was announced by Network Rail in a press release issued on 23 December 2005, which stated that “The level of demand on the line means that there is no capacity for further freight paths beyond the 2005 levels”.
The ECML is a very important route for freight growth given the increasing volume of freight using East Coast ports such as Immingham, Hull, Redcar, Felixstowe and Harwich. In addition there are a number of proposals for the development of new and existing freight terminals along the length of the ECML.
Graham Smith, EWS planning director, said: “The need for enhanced capacity for freight on Britain’s railway network is an important issue. The East Coast Main Line will become an increasingly important route as freight by rail continues to grow. Network Rail has been supportive of rail freight development in 2005 and as one of their largest customers we expect that to continue. The initial finding that no more freight can be accommodated on the ECML needs to be explained as we have access rights to use this rail route If there is no room for freight growth we assume there is no room for other growth either.”
Smith continued: “Rail freight can be flexible when circumstances allow as demonstrated by the joint industry review that reduced the number of coal trains on the north end of the East Coast Main Line. However, this review increased capacity for rail freight between Scotland and England through a review of timetables on the Glasgow and South Western and the Settle and Carlisle routes, which enabled an additional 30 freight trains to be accommodated on these lines. The additional services began operating in December 2005 and will enable an extra two million tonnes of coal to be transported by rail from Scotland to power stations in Yorkshire”.
EWS will publish its response to Network Rail’s consultation in the New Year to assist an informed discussion over the growing needs of freight on the ECML and to demonstrate the importance of growing rail freight to the economy.
ECML needs greater capacity for growth
Additional capacity for rail freight services must be accommodated on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) according to a statement made by EWS.
This capacity is needed to meet the projected demand by industry for rail freight services on this route, one of Europe’s busiest mixed use railways, which currently carries hundreds of freight trains a day.
EWS, Britain’s largest rail freight operator, will demonstrate this need in its response to Network Rail’s consultation on its capacity study into the ECML for the Office of Rail Regulation. The consultation was announced by Network Rail in a press release issued on 23 December 2005, which stated that “The level of demand on the line means that there is no capacity for further freight paths beyond the 2005 levels”.
The ECML is a very important route for freight growth given the increasing volume of freight using East Coast ports such as Immingham, Hull, Redcar, Felixstowe and Harwich. In addition there are a number of proposals for the development of new and existing freight terminals along the length of the ECML.
Graham Smith, EWS planning director, said: “The need for enhanced capacity for freight on Britain’s railway network is an important issue. The East Coast Main Line will become an increasingly important route as freight by rail continues to grow. Network Rail has been supportive of rail freight development in 2005 and as one of their largest customers we expect that to continue. The initial finding that no more freight can be accommodated on the ECML needs to be explained as we have access rights to use this rail route If there is no room for freight growth we assume there is no room for other growth either.”
Smith continued: “Rail freight can be flexible when circumstances allow as demonstrated by the joint industry review that reduced the number of coal trains on the north end of the East Coast Main Line. However, this review increased capacity for rail freight between Scotland and England through a review of timetables on the Glasgow and South Western and the Settle and Carlisle routes, which enabled an additional 30 freight trains to be accommodated on these lines. The additional services began operating in December 2005 and will enable an extra two million tonnes of coal to be transported by rail from Scotland to power stations in Yorkshire”.
EWS will publish its response to Network Rail’s consultation in the New Year to assist an informed discussion over the growing needs of freight on the ECML and to demonstrate the importance of growing rail freight to the economy.
