Encouraging new freight (and passenger) flows

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Rail UK^▸ (United Kingdom)

Train operators have been offered the opportunity to gain discounts on their track access charges by Network Rail in a bid to encourage new business to the railway, particularly freight.

The relevant charges would be waived in full for six months whilst new traffic is being established.

A single freight train can take up to 76 lorries off the nation’s roads, and rail freight itself saves over 1m tonnes of carbon every year, with every train taking the country closer towards Net Zero. It’s not a surprise then that ambitious targets have been set by leaders in Westminster and Holyrood to boost the sector.

While Network Rail’s offer is open to all train operators and types of service that meet the qualifying criteria, the driver behind it was the company’s commitment to support the growth of rail freight. The offer is worth around £1,000 per train circulation (out and back) depending on the length and loading of the trains.

Rail Minister Lord Hendy said: “The rail freight sector plays a crucial role in keeping the country moving, providing a faster, greener and more efficient way of transporting goods. The Government’s policy is to promote and grow the use of freight services across the country and make moving goods by rail the obvious choice for businesses, and this initiative will do just that.”

[eightonedee]

Here's an idea Lord Hendy - reinstate HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) beyond Birmingham so that there will be some available paths for them to use.....

[IndustryInsider]

And make is so that more freight is hauled by electric locomotives where possible rather than it being up to £1000 cheaper per train to use a diesel.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/electric-trains-are-the-future-for-green-freight-but-costs-are-forcing-firms-back-to-diesel-13026338

[broadgage]

And make is so that more freight is hauled by electric locomotives where possible rather than it being up to £1000 cheaper per train to use a diesel.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/electric-trains-are-the-future-for-green-freight-but-costs-are-forcing-firms-back-to-diesel-13026338

I recall news reports stating that freightliner were storing their electric locomotives, and reverting to diesel haulage on electrified lines due to the high price charged by network rail for traction current.

[broadgage]

The high price of electricity is in my view becoming increasingly hard to justify. whether for rail traction or more general uses.
It is based on the natural gas price, and not on the increasing amounts of cheap wind power.
 

[Electric train]

And make is so that more freight is hauled by electric locomotives where possible rather than it being up to £1000 cheaper per train to use a diesel.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/electric-trains-are-the-future-for-green-freight-but-costs-are-forcing-firms-back-to-diesel-13026338

I recall news reports stating that freightliner were storing their electric locomotives, and reverting to diesel haulage on electrified lines due to the high price charged by network rail for traction current.

Network Rail do not charge for traction current because its not an energy retailer, the cost of electricity is the unit cost as supplied to the consumer (TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) or FOC^▸ (Freight Operating Company)) by the supplier.  Network Rail track access charges are higher for electric traction because more infrastructure is used ie the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") etc.

Many of the FOC want end to end traction unit, the days of changing locos mid trip are thing of the past (almost), so a Southampton Docks to Glasgow will be diesel hauled for example and have a loco change in the Midlands