RFG News - July 2022 - Issue 154

NEWS

Helping ensure a sustainable future for UK rail freight

154

July 2022

Nestlé set to cut more CO2 with rail freight Nestlé unveils new double-stacking rail logistics plan to reduce carbon footprint

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Wascosa Rollout event at Victoria

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Maritime Transport signs SEGRO deal

Nestlé UK & Ireland has unveiled plans to increase the capacity of its rail freight services with the double-stacking of products, an important step towards further reducing its carbon footprint.

The new curtain-sided rail container with a raising roof, which is designed to transport double-stacked palletised products by rail, was displayed at the Multimodal Exhibition in Birmingham running between the 14th and 16th of June. The design of the container overcomes the important height barrier that Nestlé says has constrained its previous use of rail freight.

Utilising a hydraulic raising roof mechanism, the unit allows Nestlé to now double-stack its goods. The roof is then lowered to just above the height of the stock, making it compliant with the height requirements of rail, while being able to get more products on board.

Nestlé has partnered with Oxford Rail Strategies, Bootle Containers and Marine Container Test Services to design and build the container. Trials will be carried out in partnership with Network Rail, Maritime Transport, W H Malcom Group and Freightliner.

Head of Delivery at Nestlé UK & Ireland, Sally Wright (pictured), said: “This project has been three years in the making, we’re continuing to develop our future transport strategy and this project could have a profound impact on reducing the number of trucks that Nestlé puts on the roads.

“We’re currently testing this approach on one route, from the Midlands to London, as we know our container is suitable to travel on this rail route, and it’s a high-volume route for our products from both Hams Hall and East Midlands Gateway.”

The container is due to embark on a trial journey later this year with goods going to Tesco. This trial is just one of the ways that Nestlé is looking to reduce its carbon footprint.

Earlier this year, the company switched 75% of its owned fleet of trucks from diesel to Bio-LNG, a liquefied gas that is a by-product of waste. Nestlé said it has been exploring solutions to reduce its carbon emissions in its transport and logistics network since 2017.

It said the move is another step towards its commitment to halve its emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. •

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Generation Logistics campaign launched

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Thanks to everyone who joined us on the Rail Freight Pavilion

July 2022 RFG Director-General’s Update

Disruptions present a tough time for rail freight

By Maggie Simpson OBE, Director-General, Rail Freight Group.

The last few weeks have definitely been a mixture of highs and lows for rail freight. Most obviously the rail strikes, which caused so much disruption, have been a real concern for everyone in the sector. Yet at the same time, we have seen great examples of market innovation and growth, and continued pressure from customers looking to do more by rail. The recently published statistics by ORR show sustained growth over the last year (page 10), with construction materials leading the charge. And Government plans for rail reform, which finally came out for consultation (page 4&5), have recognised the unique place of rail freight, and made a number of significant adjustments to help support the growth of our sector.

The rail strikes have been hugely disruptive to rail freight, and a huge thanks must go to everyone in freight operators, customers and at Network Rail for working so hard on contingency plans and on keeping as many trains running as possible. It was also good to see that rail freight was front and centre of that planning, with the critical nature of supply chains being recognised in government, something that definitely would not have been the case a few years ago. Nonetheless the disruption has been significant, and RFG has been consistently calling for a rapid resolution to the dispute. We have been talking across the media, including print and radio, raising the impact on supply chains and the concerns of the industry, as well as talking to government and Network Rail.

It is not our place to take a view on the causes of the dispute, but we do urgently need progress from both sides to avoid any further action over the summer.

More positively, it was great to see so many members exhibiting and visiting the recent Multimodal exhibition at the

NEC. The RFG Pavilion was a hub for meetings and discussions, and it was great to be joined by so many of our members who chose to exhibit on the Pavilion itself. Elsewhere there was huge excitement over the new prototype container for Nestlé, on show for the first time, which if successful promises to significantly improve the economics of domestic trunking by rail. We were also excited by the new service being developed by TX Logistik to bring unaccompanied trailers on rail through the Channel Tunnel (watch this space for news on that), as well as the other new international services being promoted in the hall. Multimodal is always a catalyst for news stories and press releases and we have tried to cover as many of these as possible in this edition of RFG News too.

Multimodal also saw the launch of the new Generation Logistics campaign (page 4), which brings the private sector and government together in a new initiative to highlight the exciting careers available in logistics. The first targeted campaign for school leavers will begin later in the summer, but in the meantime, there is an opportunity for businesses to step up as campaign sponsors and also provide great case studies and events into the online hub. RFG is a supporter of the campaign, along with other industry associations, and will provide more information to members in the coming weeks.

Generation Logistics was one of the key recommendations from the DfT Future of Freight Plan, which was also published on the same day, and is definitely worth a read for anyone in the sector.

Finally, government have also published their long awaited consultation on the legislation required to enact rail reform.

This is one of those consultations which might best be described as ‘boring but important’, as it sets the framework for legislation which is likely to govern the industry for decades ahead. We have been pleased to see that the DfT have picked up many of our concerns over the proposed changes, and the consultation appears to provide a balanced approach with important protections remaining in place. However as always there are many questions over the details, and some areas of concern. We are arranging a members’ roundtable to discuss the consultation so do look out for details of this.

The RFG team have been working hard to make sure your views are heard in all these important policy areas, and thanks to all our members who have contacted us with information and support. The next few weeks and months look like they will remain busy, we hope with the positive market developments rather more than industrial action. •

RFG joins Wascosa for its Wagon Rollout Event at London Victoria RFG’s Director General Maggie Simpson joined Peter Balzer, CEO of Wascosa, for its Wagon Rollout Event held on 28 June 2022 at Victoria Station, London.

After the rollout of the new wagons, there were presentations from invited guests including: John Smith, MD of GB Railfreight; Mark Tarry, Supply Chain Operations Director at Network Rail; and Stephen Timms MP, Trade Envoy to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. • Credit: Image Shan Liu Almond Bank Communications.

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July 2022

News in Brief • RFG’s response to England’s Economic Heartland STB ‘Call for evidence’ on the Swindon to Oxford Corridor is available to download here.

• Frans Calje, PD Ports’ CEO, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to international trade and the UK economy.

Maritime Transport invests in growing commitment to rail Maritime Transport has been named as the rail operator at SEGRO’s new logistics park in Northampton. The deal includes the long-term lease of a new 17-acre intermodal rail terminal and wider management role for Maritime. It also covers the rail infrastructure on the site and will provide occupiers capacity for up to 16 daily trains, when fully operational.

The 775m long, open access, strategic rail freight interchange, is capable of receiving the largest container freight trains with storage capacity for almost 2,500 TEU and parking for over 125 trucks. The development, which is currently under construction, will deliver some 5m sq ft of modern warehouse space, on completion.

Maritime says it will be making additional investments at the site, including the construction of a high specification, fourstorey office with new facilities, new container handling equipment and provisions for electric truck and car charging infrastructure.

In a separate agreement, SEGRO and Maritime have also agreed terms to extend the rail facility at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, doubling the capacity of the terminal. It is the first agreement signed since the designation of the East Midlands Freeport, UK’s only inland freeport.

The terminal currently operates six trains a day to locations including Felixstowe, Liverpool, London Gateway and Southampton.

John Williams, Executive Chairman at Maritime, said: “These developments, at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton and SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, are important, long-term commitments for Maritime to reduce our environmental footprint by developing a network of low carbon, strategic freight connections across the country. It will promote modal shift from road to rail for container transport and for domestic distribution, with local distribution by electric-powered trucks.

“Building and operating modern, inland rail freight interchanges, supported by the largest dedicated fleet of vehicles in the country, enables us to deliver terminal to terminal rail solutions and highly efficient rail to door and door to rail services for our customers who are looking for long term, supply chain protection and sustainable transport solutions.” •

• MDS Transmodal has launched the Freight Data Hub at the Modelling World Conference in Birmingham. The Freight Data Hub is a new way for the public sector, transport planning consultants and commercial organisations to access high quality and robust freight transport data. It has produced a booklet on ‘Using Freight Transport Data’ Email info@freightdatahub.org for a copy.

• Rail leaders reacted with dismay to news that Government has scrapped plans for the second phase of High Speed 2 to include a spur between Knutsford in Cheshire and Wigan, known as the ‘Golborne Link’. Read the article here.

Book your place today!

July 2022

RFG’s Director General, Maggie Simpson, joins the panel debate alongside Trudy Harrison MP, Under-Secretary of State for Transport.

Generation Logistics The logistics industry has taken a decisive step to address its long-term recruitment and staff retention issues with the launch of a major new awareness and recruitment campaign, Generation Logistics.

Co-ordinated by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and Logistics UK, in partnership with the DfT, the campaign has already gained significant support.

Speaking at the launch, during Multimodal, Phil Roe, President of Logistics UK said: “Generation Logistics will provide our industry with the capability to attract and retain the skilled and ambitious workforce which it needs as our role in society continues to flourish. After the recognition of our workforce as key workers during the pandemic, it is critical that we protect and enhance our talent pool to keep our sector developing and thriving to support all sectors of the economy; Generation Logistics will give us the opportunity to do just that.”

Sharon Kindleysides, Chief Executive of CILT added: “Generation Logistics brings together operational logistics organisations, government, CILT (UK), Logistics UK and sector trade bodies to create and support a campaign that will raise the positive profile of the sector and inform and attract the resources and talent that we need to meet the future demands that will be placed on us. The sector has been recognised as

critical infrastructure over recent years and Generation Logistics will highlight the huge range of roles and career development opportunities that are available at all levels and across all modes and activities”.

In addition to a comprehensive web portal, containing careers advice and guidance, features, video content, jobs and news, the campaign will focus on a number of key demographic areas, all of which could be inclined towards taking up a role in logistics. As Roe continues, it is critical that as many people are made aware of the opportunities available to them as possible: “Before the pandemic, logistics was a largely hidden industry, yet acted as a vital cog in the wheel of our interconnected economy. It is vital that our sector now takes advantage of its new-found awareness to highlight the complexity and technological developments involved in moving goods to their destinations, to encourage new recruits into our industry and protect our supply chain. We often say logistics is the country’s ‘hidden secret’ - Generation Logistics is the campaign which will challenge that perception and bring the sector to the forefront of people’s minds, as a forward thinking, fast paced modern industry with much to offer today’s employees, as well as the workforce of tomorrow.”

The launch took place at Multimodal at the NEC in Birmingham, where Trudy Harrison MP, Under-Secretary of State for Transport, met some of the campaign’s sponsors and took part in a roundtable to debate the issues facing logistics recruiters. •

The Future of Freight: a long-term plan ‘The Future of Freight: a long-term plan’ is the first-ever cross-modal and crossgovernment plan for the UK freight transport sector.

Developed in partnership with industry, the plan sets out the government’s long-term vision for the UK freight sector. It identifies the main challenges, objectives and actions that need to be taken in the following five priority areas. These are: National Freight Network (NFN); enabling the transition to net zero; planning; people and skills; data and technology.

Read more on this issue in Addleshaw Goddard’s column on page 7.

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July 2022

REGISTER HERE!

Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail Legislation Consultation The DfT has published its long-awaited consultation on the proposed legislation to implement rail reform. RFG will be responding to the consultation (deadline 4 August) and will convene some member roundtables ahead of that date to discuss the key points and issues. As always, we welcome any input and thoughts from members.

What is the purpose of the consultation?

The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail published last year set out the proposals for rail reform at a high level. Some parts of those reforms need legislation to enact them, and this consultation provides more detail on those areas and the shape of the proposed Bill. In doing so, the consultation also gives more information on the proposed governance framework for Great British Railways, and changes to other organisations necessary to enact reform.

The Queen’s Speech included provision for a new Transport Bill, and we expect the primary legislation for rail reform to be part of that Bill, along with other legislative matters that DfT need to progress (including measures on e-scooters, electric vehicle charging and other matters). It is expected that the Bill will have its first reading this autumn.

Why is the consultation important?

New primary legislation is an infrequent event – the last major Act for the railways was in 1993, so we can expect this legislation to set out the structure of UK rail for decades ahead. As such it is important that the provisions provide a framework that is good for rail freight, support growth and avoid perversities. Once established in law it will be difficult to get any amendments or additions, so we need to raise any concerns or missed opportunities during the consultation process.

The consultation also describes other aspects of the GBR governance framework such as the licence, directions and guidance and other matters. Whilst these will be provided for in law, the contents of such documents will be able to be changed more regularly – which is both a potential hazard and potential opportunity. The consultation also, therefore, gives an opportunity to comment on the wider framework and the processes which underpin it.

What is the proposed governance framework for GBR? The framework described in the consultation is broadly as follows: Firstly, the new legislation will: Enable the Secretary of State to appoint an ‘Integrated Rail Body’ as a new body

responsible for the mainline railway in Great Britain (essentially giving the Secretary of State the authority to set up GBR) Require GBR to comply with a licence issued by the Secretary of State Set out some key aspects of that licence including how it will be issued and amended. This includes a requirement for the scope of the licence to include duties on GBR relating to accessibility, freight and the environment Give powers to the Secretary of State to issue Directions and Guidance to GBR and require GBR to follow them.

Although this sounds complex, it is broadly similar to the way that other Government bodies are governed, including Network Rail, ORR and others.

The consultation also describes the core functions and duties that GBR will hold. It is unclear from the text whether these will be in the legislation, the licence or the Directions and Guidance, and further work is needed to fully understand this. One such duty is likely to be that GBR should act to deliver the benefits from promoting the carriage and growth of rail freight.

The legislation will also provide for GBR to have a framework agreement with Government and Articles of Association.

Although we will want to understand more about these, they appear to relate more to the relationship between GBR and central Government and are unlikely to be significant for freight.

What is the Future Role for ORR? The ORR’s role, as described in the consultation is actually remarkably similar to today. ORR will have an oversight role to ensure that GBR is complying with its licence and its policies with the ability to take enforcement action where needed, in a similar way to today.

ORR’s role in access, as described in the 1993 Railways Act will remain unchanged, which is significant and important for freight and non GBR operators (see below on access).

The process for Periodic Reviews also appears to remain broadly unchanged. Government(s) will continue to set High Level Output specifications (which we expect will contain the freight growth target), and statement of funds available. We expect this will also remain the process by which access charges are set.

There are some proposed amendments to ORRs duties A new statutory duty on ORR to facilitate the furtherance of GBR’s policies on matters of access where these have received Secretary of State approval.

Continued over the page.

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July 2022 An amendment to require the ORR to take into account public sector funding of rail services when applying its competition duty – including on access to the track.

there are some, for example around competition law, which will need to be considered to ensure there are no ‘side effects’ for freight.

These will need further discussion and consideration, in the context of the overall framework for access. The second duty needs consideration if an access decision between a passenger and freight service were being considered.

What Isn’t in There?

Lots of things! The consultation is focussed only on those matters that need to be in primary legislation, so there are many things which are not covered. For example, although there is a high level description of the structure of GBR there is still little detail over how it will function. The consultation makes some reference to the relationship with Scottish and Welsh Ministers but does not cover how this will work in practice and similarly with Sub National Transport bodies and city-regions.

Much more information will be needed on those areas over the coming months.

Will the Bill change the access framework?

The consultation makes fewer changes to the access framework than expected, but it does still anticipate changes.

As outlined above, the Bill will contain changes to ORR duties in relation to access, whilst leaving their core role unchanged.

The consultation describes a ‘Commission’ to be led by the GBR transition team to recommend a package of changes to the access framework and how they could be implemented. We are expecting to see further details on this work shortly.

The legislation will also include a process enabling changes to EU derived railway law (including the Access and Management Regulations which govern track access and charges) to be amended by secondary legislation in future. We will need to understand more details of this process and consider any concerns arising from it.

Summary Taken overall, the consultation appears to be a reasonable balance for rail freight, but there are many areas where further information is required, and somewhere there might be concerns to raise. We will work through these areas in the coming weeks, and welcome member input.

What about the Passenger Railway?

As expected, the consultation makes various changes to enable future passenger contracts to be let by GBR rather than by DfT. Whilst most of these changes are likely to be ‘inert’ for freight,

Full go-ahead for pioneering East Coast Digital Programme The Government has announced a new £1bn investment in the East Coast Digital Programme, a project to install digital signalling on the East Coast Main Line.

Network Rail said this would be ‘the strategic catalyst’ for the network plan unlocking investment in other routes and building the industry experience and capability.

It is also setting the path for major investments and how the industry can work differently together in Great British Railways supporting the Williams-Shapps reforms.

Digital signalling has proven to be a complex endeavour for the UK railway and requires the deep integration of track and train.

In an open letter, Toufic Machnouk, Director, Industry Partnership for Digital Railway, Network Rail, said: “We embarked on this journey in

2018 at a time of low trust and high uncertainty in our industry and few thought that this would be possible.

We had to make the case and to create a viable way that was credible.

As a result, we had to create a pioneering industry and commercial partnership that allowed us to create an open boundary and innovative environment which brought operators and suppliers closer together in a passenger and user centric model.

“This model is now enabling some industry first delivery. We have built an industry plan and mobilised a unique partnership. On the Northern City Line between Finsbury Park and Moorgate, we devised a cross industry plan to de-risk and maximise benefits. That project has gone from nothing to commissioning a new system across track and train in under two years. Last month we operated the first European Train Control System (ETCS) test train on the route, the start of an ongoing intensive process of testing and approvals to start migration to ETCS operations and the removal of signals.

“We have upgraded facilities at the Rail Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC) in Melton to test rail

vehicles fitted with ETCS. We are progressing the retrofitting of fleets, with the first two classes completed and tested now, and progressing with important fitments like the national freight fleet and the world first heritage pathfinder project. And we’re embarking on an extensive programme of training for thousands of colleagues who will be upskilled to work with digital technology.”

As set out by our cross-industry plan, the programme will progressively transition the route to operate under ETCS, eventually removing the need for lineside signals. We are working to be ready to start migration on ECML south around the time of the bicentenary of the world’s first public railways in 2025. This will mark a unique moment in our industry’s story. A celebration of the pioneers that came before us who invented the railway and all it has done for people around the world, and a reimagining of who we can be today, as pioneers of our time reinventing the railway for the 21st century.

Network Rail has launched a new website with videos and further information.

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July 2022 Guest column - Addleshaw Goddard LLP

What’s the future for freight?

By Martin Fleetwood, Transport Consultant, Addleshaw Goddard.

The UK Government recently published Future of freight: a long-term plan. This was a commitment in the Government’s response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s 2019 report Better delivery: a challenge for freight. It has been developed in partnership with industry and sets out the Government’s longterm vision for the UK freight sector.

The vision is “A freight and logistics sector that is cost-efficient, reliable resilient, environmentally sustainable and valued by society.”

The plan identifies the main challenges, objectives and actions that need to be taken in the following 5 priority areas: • National Freight Network • Enabling the transition to net zero • Planning • People and skills • Data and technology Two themes run through the plan: raising the status of freight and embedding a multi-modal approach to freight across government (all five priorities are multi-modal).

While the plan provides warm words around freight, there are few concrete actions set out. Yes, it is a long-term plan, but there is a lack of short-term objectives to keep it focussed. All too easily issues can get kicked into the long grass and another report commissioned – something the rail sector is somewhat familiar with.

The plan acknowledges that its core task going forward is to start developing a route map for the future, not complete the process. The route map should evolve, but key themes should always be maintained. Collaboration between government and the freight industry is encouraging (a lot of collaboration has been needed to even get to this point) so let’s hope that this momentum can continue.

A National, Multi-modal Freight Network The plan recognises the public-private mix within the UK freight and logistics sector. Private sector companies invest in infrastructure – rail terminals, ports and airports – and equipment – rolling stock and trucks – without government support. The public sector invests in the rail and road network that connects it all. There is also a network of National Distribution Centres and Regional Distribution Centres, although this does need to expand. With a multi-modal approach to the movement of goods the plan does recognise the value of rail freight both for intermodal freight movements and for the levelling-up agenda: Rail freight interchanges are singled out in the plan as the area where a cross-modal approach has been most visible.

Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) is used up as an example of a key rail-road intermodal freight terminal rail connections to the West Coast Mainline and onwards to the Channel Tunnel and deep seaports while also having access to

core routes on the strategic road network such as the M1, M6, A14 and A5. Strategic rail freight interchanges like DIRFT are classed as Nationally Strategic Infrastructure Projects within the planning system, which should make it simpler to get planning permission, although not always the case! Government is currently reviewing the National Networks National Policy Statement and through this will consider the growing importance of major freight schemes to our economy, particularly the increasingly important role of strategic rail freight interchanges (SRFIs) and the interdependencies between different transport hubs along the supply chain. To the extent possible, the rail freight sector should look at how it can influence the outcome of this review, particularly on SRFIs. Viewing the freight sector as a national network, rather than just looking at individual transport modes in isolation, should enable Government to identify and prioritise strategically important freight corridors, e.g. those with particular economic, levelling up or decarbonisation benefits. It’s incumbent on the freight industry generally to work with Government to provide data to help build up this picture, but particularly for rail freight with respect to the changing shape of its requirements, so that the final plans reflect emerging trends.

Our overall impression of the Plan The emphasis on multi-modal thinking in the plan is not new, but it does show reinvigorated government action. The importance of considering the end-to-end freight journey and collecting relevant data should not be underestimated.

However, most references to rail freight in the plan are restating existing policy commitments rather than saying anything new.

The Transport Decarbonisation Plan, the Williams-Shapps Plan and the Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy all receive coverage. Government still seems keen on modal shift of freight from road to rail where possible, but does not come up with any new ideas of how to do this in the plan. Rail currently has an advantage over long distance road in terms of green transport and needs to make the most of it before road technology catches up.

There are currently trials of experimental new rail freight services and pressure should be kept up on Network Rail / GBRTT to support these. High speed freight trains are being converted from redundant passenger stock and logistics companies are looking at how to access sidings in and around town and city centres for simple distribution points. Local authorities should be encouraged to support these, particularly on the planning side.

Uses of new technology to monitor and process freight (particularly parcel and container services) and different attitudes from new entrants to the market (and their customers) should be considered. Good solutions should be championed and support obtained from beyond just the freight sector – the general public can be influential on both local and national government, but need to see benefits in simple and clear terms.•

Contacts • Martin Fleetwood Transport Consultant Addleshaw Goddard Martin.Fleetwood@addleshawgoddard.com 7

July 2022 Guest column - Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT)

Progress identifying new intermodal rail freight interchanges by the GBRTT

What did we find?

We objectively investigated ‘gaps’ in the spatial coverage of the intermodal rail offer, by referencing top down publicly available data and taking bottom-up soundings from key operators and users in the domestic intermodal sector, plus Strategic Freight Unit (SFU) team input within GBRTT. Broadly, the study identified that by mapping data on HGV tonnage by region, population density, measures of warehousing space development and take up plus existence or otherwise of existing IRFI’s that the following regions of Britain are notably un/underserved: South-East, North-East, SouthWest and Eastern.

By Guy Bates, Head of Freight Development, GBRTT. What are we doing next?

The single biggest opportunity for rail freight growth in the drive toward modal shift and the achievement of net carbon zero by 2050, is domestic intermodal; rail needs a far greater share of the currently road-dominated trunk haul of goods.

Self-evidently, conversion to rail haul demands interchange facilities proximate to supplier, manufacturer, retailer production and distribution centres. Additionally, such facilities need to be in locations where suitable volumes may readily consolidate into viable trainload quantities.

Over the past three decades, the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SFRI) model (privately funded development of extensive distribution space with attendant on-campus rail terminal facilities) has provided significant intermodal terminal capacity. By necessity this model functions in those areas with extensive developable land, a development positive planning climate and demand for warehousing. The latter is the critical component in that it’s the value arising to the developer from the distribution space that must be sufficient to warrant the significant costs of rail connectivity and rail terminal provision.

GBRTT will be looking at a non-exhaustive list of sites from the study, we will explore the physical characteristics and site operational design considerations within the under-served regions above, to select two or three trailblazer sites for early progression. The list is drawn up against technical criteria, offer varying degrees of applicability for accommodating future IRFI developments. The list was informed by dialogue with the Head of Freight Development, Freight Operating Companies, and domestic intermodal operators – it’s a sector understood initial cut.

Alongside this, the SFU has commissioned timetable capacity analysis work to provide assurance around train capacity.

The challenge of identifying paths remains a key constraint to freight growth – therefore such work is to be a hallmark of SFU railhead development. •

Where the above trio of conditions cannot be met, the SRFI model does not work. Therefore, in those regions with development restrictive planning regimes, elevated land values and/or little new distribution space demand there is no prospect of SRFI realisation. Certain regions are modally disadvantaged in this way - yet established existing production, distribution activity or population density mean there is an obvious realisable intermodal traffic opportunity. Indeed, by regarding SRFI’s as the origin or destination of an intermodal flow, tackling the domestic intermodal traffic opportunity, demands facilities at the other end of the journey.

What were we asked at the Great British Railways Transition Team?

Following an exchange of letters last year between Andrew Haines, Transition Team Lead, and Chris Heaton-Harris, then Minister for Rail, a commitment was made that the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) would develop proposals for future intermodal interchanges as part of a wider market development plan.

Ultimately, I expect this activity will see proposals for locations of intermodal interchanges that effectively expand the rail addressable market. These would complement the existing Port and SRFI facility network by adding new intermodal flow opportunities to serve regional manufacturers, suppliers and consumer markets in areas where to date, planning policy, land availability or distribution space demand/value do not provide for the established developer led SRFI model.

Contact • Guy Bates, Head of Freight Development, GBRTT guy.bates@gbrtt.co.uk www.gbrtt.co.uk

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July 2022 Westminster Update - JR Consulting

Parliamentary concerns about rail freight during current strikes

By Jonathan Roberts, Managing Director, JR Consulting.

During 20th June, MPs and Peers debated in each House the effects of the current series of strikes on the railways, which have a range of causes (rail reforms, work modernisation, pay and conditions, and pensions funding being just four). There have been expressions of concern about the impact on rail freight, and this Westminster Column highlights such comments and the responses received.

Ministers in both houses (Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP and Lords Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton) shared the same statement, which included: “We are doing everything can, despite these strikes, to minimise the disruption throughout the entire network. We are working with… the Government’s emergency planning team, to keep critical supply chains open wherever possible. Operators will keep as many passenger trains as possible running, although, of course, with much disruption to the timetable, that will be very difficult on strike days. It is estimated that around 20% of planned services will operate, focused on key workers, main population centres and critical freight routes.

“Now, as we recover [from two years of Covid] and people start to travel again, the industry needs to grow its revenues.

It needs to attract passengers back, and make the reforms that are necessary for it to compete. The very last thing that it should be doing now is alienating passengers and freight customers with a long and damaging strike.”

“We have a platform for change. We want the unions to work with the industry and the Government to bring a much brighter future to our railways, and that means building an agile and flexible workforce…”

In the Commons, Huw Merriman MP (Con, Bexhill & Battle, and Chair of the Commons’ Transport Select Committee), commented that negotiations would be “intricate, technical reforms of which we would not expect politicians to be in charge”. He had visited the port of Southampton with the Select Committee last week, and “30% of everything that comes in on those ships goes to the rest of the country by rail freight. These strikes will affect everyone, not just rail passengers. What are we doing to preserve our rail freight routes?”

Grant Shapps observed that “rail freight... has been doing pretty well as more freight shifts to rail post covid—about 9% of the overall total. We are now working as closely as possible with colleagues at Network Rail to design the strike day and post-strike day timetables, to make sure that as much freight as possible can travel, but I will not mislead him or the House, as it will be very difficult to achieve.”

In the Lords, In reply to shadow Minister Baroness Smith, Baroness Vere commented: “Government are committed to

working with the train operating companies to put in place as many services as we can to minimise disruption to both freight and passenger operations where possible… We absolutely need to provide those services for as many people as possible, because we know that so many people are reliant on the railways.”

Lord Berkeley (Lab) asked what was to happen next: “I get the impression that this crisis has just occurred in the past week, but that is not the case. The trade unions have been talking about this for a long time; the Government have been talking about Great British Railways for a very long time… I do not buy this business that the Government are not a principal. Since Covid, for very good reasons, the Government have been micromanaging the railways… I hope that next week or by the end of this week, whatever the reasons, the Government encourage everybody to sit around the table and start talking about change and how it can be implemented while keeping the services going at the same time…

Baroness Vere replied: “The most important thing, to my mind, is for the unions to come back to the table—to sit down with the train operating companies and Network Rail to reach a resolution.”

Viscount Waverley, who is co-chair of the newly formed UK freight and logistics parliamentary group, asked the Minister to turn her mind to the Future of Freight White Paper released last week. He was concerned about barriers to the “seamless flow of freight”.

Baroness Vere commented that freight is an incredibly important area that “historically has sometimes been slightly forgotten about… We are hugely ambitious for freight on our railways. We have been working closely with the freight operating companies and Network Rail to see what we can do to get as many freight trains as possible moving over this period of disruption.

“We also had several meetings, in the weeks prior to any potential industrial action, about what is currently carried by rail freight that we would need to make sure continues to be so, so we feel content that we have a good handle on that.”

“On longer-term ambitions for freight on rail, we are hugely ambitious for it, as set out in the Williams-Shapps plan for rail but also in the Future of Freight strategy.” She promised “many positive discussions” about what Great British Railways can do for freight, in the forthcoming Transport Bill.

Concluding the Lords debate, Baroness Vere remarked: “I think the reality is that nobody wants this strike to continue.

We will do whatever we can to support the train operating companies and Network Rail to reach a resolution. There has been some pretty sharp rhetoric, and one does not want to see widespread discontent, because that would be harmful to our economy and ultimately damaging to the workers themselves.”

Contact Jonathan Roberts Managing Director jr@jrc.org.uk www.jrc.org.uk 9

July 2022

DP World Southampton is first port in Britain to replace diesel with vegetable oil and cuts net emissions by more than 80% DP World’s container terminal at Southampton says it has taken a major step forward in the journey to net zero by becoming the first port in Britain to eliminate fossil diesel

Rail freight bounces back to pre-pandemic levels Rail freight has shown it continues to play a vital role in moving goods around the country. In the year ending 31 March 2022, 78m tonnes of freight were carried on the rail network. This was an increase of 13.5% compared with last year.

Freight moved in Great Britain rose to 16.87bn net tonne km in April 2021 to March 2022. This was an increase of 11.3% compared with one year ago (April 2020 to March 2021) and an increase of 1.8% compared with two years ago (April 2019 to April 2020).

The total of non-coal freight volumes in the latest year was 16.57 bn net tonne km, the highest non-coal freight volumes recorded in the time series.

The strength of growth in Construction ensured the overall increase in freight moved and the full recovery to pre-pandemic levels.

from its operations entirely and transition to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).

Diesel previously accounted for 90 per cent of the terminal’s emissions but HVO – a renewable biodiesel derived from sustainable sources – eliminates more than 80 per cent of net carbon dioxide emissions as well as significantly reducing nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and carbon monoxide.

John Trenchard, UK Supply Chain Director at DP World, said: “I am delighted that we have successfully made the leap to fuelling all of our fleet and installations at Southampton with HVO. This innovation shows our determination to continue playing our part in helping the UK meet its target of delivering the Government’s Net Zero 2050 policy and improving local air quality.” •

Other freight moved increased by 16.1% compared with two years ago. This was due to the continued demand for biomass and the initial recovery of automotive production. It can also be explained by an increase in the volume of household waste (including packaging waste from home deliveries) and construction.

Construction volumes increased by 10.6% compared with two years ago.

This represents the greatest increase in absolute terms of any commodity over two years, with a rise of 0.49 bn net tonne km. Its growth can be attributed to the high demand for aggregates from house building and infrastructure work. Specifically, there are large volumes of aggregates being moved to the terminals along the High Speed 2 construction route.

Previously dormant rail facilities at quarries are being re-opened to provide additional output. At 5.13bn net tonne km, Construction has surpassed 5 billion net tonne kilometres for the first time in the time series. Volumes are approximately 2.5 times larger than when the series began (April 1998 to March 1999).

Over the 9 years since April 2012, construction has more than doubled its market share.

Domestic intermodal (transporting of goods to and from GB ports make

up the largest proportion of this category) is the commodity with the largest market share of freight moved, comprising 38.5% in the latest year. However, over the last two years its share has decreased (down from 40.7%) relative to Construction. Market share of Construction in the last year was 30.4%, compared with 28.0% two years ago.

Domestic intermodal has been affected by congestion at inland terminals where there has been a build-up of containers awaiting acceptance by customers. This masked the beneficial impact of new domestic intermodal services that were introduced during the year in response to the HGV driver shortage and customers’ decarbonisation strategies.

International volumes have seen the largest percentage reduction with a decrease of 34.1%. A decrease in European automotive is notable in this trend, caused by the pandemic, the lack of available parts and uncertainty in changing export arrangements.

Click here to see the full stats on the ORR site. •

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July 2022

Event review

RFG Spring Group Meeting Report Our Spring Group Meeting, in Manchester on 25 May, included presentations on the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme, the challenges of growing intermodal traffic in the UK and ways to manage traffic flow and capacity.

The decision by the RMT to take strike action had been announced just before the meeting and Maggie Simpson, RFG Director General, emphasized how much the action could affect freight. She said the positive side is that politicians and others are really valuing rail freight now, which would not have been the case even just a few years ago.

The importance of supply chain resilience is being recognised at the highest levels of government, according to Ian Napier, Head of Rail Freight Strategy & Rail Free Trade Agreements / International Engagement, DfT. As far as decarbonisation is concerned, electrification will play a major role but the department is also supporting battery and hydrogen technology through innovation and research funding such as the FOAK (First of a Kind) project.

The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), making it fully electrified and digital, is the biggest project in the UK that nobody has heard of, said Neil Holm, Director, Transpennine Route Upgrade Eastern Region, Network Rail. It will take up 30% of the total enhancement budget over the next years though this includes upgrading diversionary routes so that the Transpennine can be closed as needed for the upgrade works.

John Reed, Industry Programme Director, TRU, Network Rail explained that there would be night time and weekend closures but the programme would also include a 30 day blockade, totalling 575 days over the 10 year period. Both speakers emphasized that including the needs of freight traffic have been an integral part of the final plan and that RFG played a key role in ensuring that. This includes confirmed works for W12 clearance and plans to increase freight capacity.

Richard Iggulden, Senior Development Manager (Eastern), Network Rail, talked about the network investment in the areas surrounding the Transpennine route to ensure best use can be made of the upgraded route, and explained that priority was being given initially to the Port of Hull.

John Bailey, Managing Director – Intermodal & Terminals, Maritime Transport, talked about the challenges of growing intermodal traffic in the UK and emphasized how close collaboration between all stakeholders could drive a lot of efficiency and change. Many of the attendees at the meeting visited Maritime’s newly upgraded Euroterminal facility after the meeting.

The subject of training in the virtual world was addressed by Maria Cliff, Head of Operations and Business Development, MTR UK and her colleague Howard Pugh. The company

RFG’s latest new members Please join us in welcoming our latest new members.

• Argent Energy

has been offering operational training support for employees on the Elizabeth Line which opened the day before and she explained that a virtual driving cab is in development. This has transformed their approach to training and they are keen to share their learning with others.

Daren Wood, Vision Director, resonate, said that for traffic management, the challenge of getting the right information out to all those who needed it was as important as getting the right information in. A lot of the information on traffic flows is fragmented and network availability can be the hardest to ascertain. There has been great success from their installations, but freight is not always benefiting as much as it could.

Mark Grimshaw Smith, Head of Rail and Sea UK, Cemex emphasized the need for collaboration and communication with Network Rail, FOCs, customers and third parties in order to optimise your freight plan during excess demand. He said Cemex commercial people were sometimes bidding against each other for available trains to help focus. on the most profitable flows when supply of rail capacity was limited.

The final presentation was by Alastair Hutchinson of Steer and Chris Swan, Head of Rail at Tarmac, who looked at freight terminal decarbonisation. They explained that developing technologies means that relative and absolute costs will change – driving decisions and viability. Decarbonisation must not compromise the economics of rail, so looking for new ideas was vital – which was the driving force behind the competition Rail Freight Terminals if the Future which they were running.

Thanks to all the speakers and to Maritime Transport for hosting the site visit.

• Journeo • Modux • Maersk • TX Logistik 11

Fenix Rail wins Logistics Park Northampton deal Fenix Rail Systems has been selected to provide a state-of-the-art digital control system to facilitate train automation within SEGRO’s Logistics Park Northampton site.

As covered on page 3, the large-scale logistics park is located adjacent to J15 of the M1 with a strategic rail freight interchange (SRFI), that has been designated for SEGRO and delivered by Winvic. The Logistics Park Northampton will include up to 5m sq feet of distribution buildings and rail connectivity.

Fenix said its proposed control system will bring simplicity to what would ordinarily be a complex

July 2022

operation, providing a safe operational environment with maximum flexibility and dependability. Its in-house design team have now started work on the first stages of what is an exciting project to be involved.

Loram & AEGIS sign MOU for closer collaboration

Major green milestone for HS2 as project announces first diesel-free construction sites

Loram and AEGIS have signed an MOU that will see both businesses work together to meet the needs of a growing number of rolling stock asset owners.

HS2 Ltd has announced its first completely diesel-free site at its Canterbury Road Vent Shaft in South Kilburn. HS2’s contractor Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV) has introduced a range of diesel-free technologies and greener equipment.

Loram specialises in rolling stock and on-track maintenance services. By partnering with AEGIS, a global leader in rail consultancy and certification, both businesses aim to provide turnkey high-tech engineering services to owners of rail vehicles. As well as meeting the emerging needs of asset owners such as Network Rail, TfL, HS2 and the ROSCOs, the MOU will also accelerate modification and enhancements to fleets operated and maintained by Loram.

Multimodal 2022: Rail Freight Pavilion Success A huge thank you to everyone who visited us in the Rail Freight Pavilion at this year’s Multimodal show.

The event was well attended and provided RFG a fantastic opportunity to help introduce new companies to the benefits of rail freight, answer questions on the various opportunities that exist across the sector and catch up with members.

Thank you to our co-exhibitors: Victa Railfreight; Myton Law; Rail Wagon Association; VTG Rail; TX Logistik; Zinc Media, Russell Transportation; and Everysens.

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Rail freight helps put the cherry on the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations cake

July 2022

The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations were enjoyed by everyone across the UK, with a huge number of outdoor events taking place between the 2nd and the 5th of June. Rail freight also played its part in marking the special day for the nation in the best way it knows how.

The celebrations were made even more special for GB Railfreight, which reached a landmark moment of its own as its 100th Class 66 locomotive entered service. Looking resplendent in purple, it was painted in a very special livery to help mark the day.

66734 was captured on video here. •

Doubts over vital Ely upgrades The East of England all party parliamentary group have written to Grant Shapps concerned that the Ely junction improvements could be cancelled which would negatively impact freight.

The rail junction at Ely is a pinchpoint for services across the East and must be upgraded to increase services to Peterborough & King’s Lynn and to encourage more freight onto the railway.

Download the letter here. •

VTG Rail team take on a charity challenge

their hearts. They will be undertaking a 1.5km zipwire challenge in Snowdonia (touching up to 100mph in places apparently) and hoping to raise £3,000 in the process.

A small team from VTG Rail UK are undertaking a charity event on 15 July in aid of the Acorns Children’s Hospice, a local charity that is close to

The link to the challenge and their JustGiving page is above and if you’re able to do so, any donations will be gratefully received by the team.

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July 2022

Event report

Building Better with rail freight in the West Midlands The construction industry is committed to working towards net-zero carbon emissions and using rail freight to transport materials (eg limestone, cement, sand and granite) is a vital part of that strategy.

To ensure the use of rail freight services can grow in Birmingham and the West Midlands, MPA (Mineral Products Association) and RFG (Rail Freight Group) are working closely together to highlight the environmental and commercial benefits of using rail – and to explain what local politicians, planners and communities can do to help.

Lucy Wooton, Head of Grand Railway Collaboration, West Midlands and Chris Swan, Head of Rail, Tarmac joined RFG Members to discuss the key issues in a free webinar.

View the recording on our YouTube Channel here.

Freightliner begins new Machen Quarry service for Hanson UK Freightliner has started its inaugural Machen Quarry to West Drayton Coal Yard service consisting of 20 wagons and hauling 1500 tonnes of aggregate for Hanson UK. 66565 was driven by Georgina Wright on her maiden turn.

The new service will run five times a week.

DP World announces arrival of first ever allelectric terminal tractor at a UK port DP World has announced the arrival of the first ever all-electric terminal tractor at a British port in a significant step forward in greening the UK logistics sector.

The Terberg YT203-EV terminal tractor which is entering service at London Gateway will primarily be used for transporting goods the two mile distance from the quayside to a distribution facility at the adjacent logistics park, a prime

example of the trend towards port-centric logistics.

ports taking 300,000 trucks off the roads each year.”

Ernst Schulze, UK Chief Executive at DP World, said: “We are delighted that Britain’s first all-electric terminal tractor is now in service at London Gateway port, as we continue to play our part in improving local air quality and helping the UK meet its target of delivering the Net Zero 2050 policy.

Maha AlQattan, Group Chief People & Sustainability Officer, said: “We believe in protecting our people and our planet through world-class environmental standards and are delighted that our UK operation is at the forefront of this drive.

Our sustainability strategy ‘Our World, Our Future’ is woven into everything we do supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals across safety, climate change, security, community engagement, people development, ethics and wellbeing.”

“We have a clear responsibility to reduce the impact of our operations and to offer customers solutions that support their own sustainability journeys. The close proximity of London Gateway to Europe’s largest consumer market gives us a natural advantage, while our investment in rail interconnectivity at both our hubs eases congestion on the roads, with the emphasis on rail across both our UK

The first all-electric terminal tractor at a British port is one part of DP World’s commitment to improving and expanding the nation’s trading infrastructure in the most sustainable way possible.

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RFG Events calendar

RFG Events Calendar 2022 The new dates for our 2022 Events calendar have now been announced. Please find them below.

• 27 July • 8 September

Digital Automatic Couplers - Webinar.

RFG Awards Dinner - Shendish Manor.

Don’t forget that the RFG will be holding its Annual Awards Dinner on 8 September at Shendish Manor Hotel, London Road, Apsley, HP3 0AA. We are delighted to welcome Ellie Burrows, Network Rail Route Director for Anglia as our guest speaker. As one of four new routes that make up Network Rail’s Eastern region, Anglia covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and parts of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Greater London. Ellie has overall responsibility for freight across the route.

If you would like to stay over at Shendish call 01442 232220 and mention the Rail Freight Group when booking to receive the discounted rates.

• 5 October

Rail Freight Group Conference - Addleshaw Goddard.

• 9 November

RFG AGM & Autumn Group Meeting - Doncaster.

• 7 December

RFG Christmas Lunch - Royal Lancaster, London.

Catch up with our events on our YouTube channel Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel, where we regularly upload the recordings of all of our webinars and other events such as conferences, our quiz and awards.

We hope to build up the channel to share best practice case studies and better promote rail freight in the UK. If you would also like us to host your corporate or project videos on there, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

Please email james@rfg.org.uk for details.

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July 2022 Guest Article - University of Birmingham

RaisE Business Centre in Goole officially launched The multi-million-pound Rail Accelerator and Innovation Solutions hub for Enterprise (RaisE) business centre in Goole is now open for business.

Project RaisE is a partnership between the East Riding of Yorkshire, Siemens Mobility and the University of Birmingham and has set out to develop a ‘Rail Village’, in Goole to support the UK’s rail industry.

The RaisE Business Centre is Phase 1 of the RaisE programme and is at the heart of this new Rail Village. The vision is to create the space for collaboration, innovation and build a business community that is well prepared and positioned to make the most of the opportunities in the rail sector.

The RaisE Business centre is in the final stage of development with the final stage being the opening of the communal public cafe in June. The RaisE doors have opened to its first tenants.

The meeting rooms and conference space are seeing a steady stream of bookings and delegates. Siemens Mobility have moved into their new state of the art, technically advanced offices that occupy the whole of the top floor of the three-storey building. The University of Birmingham has two offices on the first floor, one of which is a large multipurpose classroom, conference and meeting room for up to 30 people; and a second space, a management office next door.

Throughout the rest of the centre there are three meeting rooms (for up to 10 people each), a conference space (for up to 80 delegates), and 26 Grade A offices (mixed sizes with space for 4 to 10 people) and 4 workshops on the ground floor with external private access doors, all available on flexible easy, one month rental terms. Offices and workshop spaces are available to SMEs. The design of this building follows a well-trodden path that has seen 8 other similar multipurpose buildings established in the East Riding area. Each floor has a communal kitchen and on the ground floor there will be a welcoming café giving plenty of opportunity for conversation and collaboration. There is ample parking on site and the reception is open from 07:30 until 17:30hrs Monday to Thursday, 17:00 on Fridays.

With great direct motorway links, RaisE is very accessible via the M1 and the M62 (J36), with quick links to: Doncaster (be there within 30 minutes); York, Sheffield and Derby (1 to 1.5 hours away); Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle (2 to 2.5 hours).

Goole Railway Station is well connected to Hull, Scarborough, Doncaster, Sheffield, Birmingham (2.25 hours), Derby (1.5hours), Manchester (2.5 hours), London (2.5 hours) and Newcastle (2.25 hours).

Why be involved?

With the opportunity to grow your business in a collaborative, supported and connected environment, there are many reasons why you and your company will benefit from being part of RaisE. This business hub will be vibrant, buzzing with activity, events and innovation, allowing for opportunities for partnership and business development.

The RaisE Business Centre is the ninth building of its type to be designed, built and operated by the East Riding Council. Project RaisE is interconnected with the other East Riding business hubs in the key towns of East Yorkshire. The other centres attain an 80% occupancy rate, which has been maintained throughout the Covid pandemic.

RaisE tenants will enjoy the support of the East Riding Council who have a team of business, workforce and skills advisors. You will also have access to the Supply Chain Network (East Riding Council) and the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE). You will have the opportunity to work with the team of experts from BCRRE, as well as being able to access and participate in education and CPD delivery sponsored by the university. The University of Birmingham is the lead partner in the United Kingdom Railway Research Innovation Network (UKRRIN) and also includes within the University of Birmingham ‘Family’ the National College for Advanced Transportation and Infrastructure (NCATI) with one of its sites just down the road in Doncaster Significantly, RaisE is located opposite the new £200m Siemens Train Factory, which is due to open in 2023. The RaisE building is also neatly positioned between other existing OEMs including Talgo in Fife, Scotland; Hitachi in Newton Aycliffe; Alstom in Derby and CAF in Newport, Wales.

Goole, with its ‘J36’ investment and vision has impressive multimodal access as the UK’s most inland port and direct access to the motorway, rail and inland waterway networks.

Want to find out more?

If you would like to learn more about renting office, workshop and conference space or meeting rooms, please contact Amanda Hoggart at Amanda.Hoggart@eastriding.gov.uk or the RaisE team at raise@eastriding.gov.uk The University of Birmingham will be holding events at RaisE. If you would like to be included on the guest list, please contact Abi Broadley (working on behalf of BCRRE) at Abi@ abibroadley.com or Rob Hopkin, Head of SME Engagement at BCRRE at R.Hopkin@bham.ac.uk

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July 2022

Loram secures £25m NR fleet maintenance and operations contracts Loram has secured two contracts with Network Rail to support the company’s Infrastructure Monitoring Fleet, which plays a key role in delivering Asset Management and Safety Assurance Plans.

The first contract confirms Loram as the

maintainer of 65 dedicated rail vehicles which Network Rail use to digitally measure and analyse track and structural assets across Britain’s railway.

The second contract involves Loram both operating and maintaining a small specialist fleet of rail vehicles used for visual inspections, track recording and the analysis of switches & crossings integrity. As well as planning, scheduling and operating these trains network-wide, Loram will also undertake their routine maintenance.

Andrew Watson, Director – Business Development at Loram UK, said: “For the first time we will be operating elements of

DB Cargo UK launches major new safety campaign DB Cargo UK has launched a major new campaign in its ongoing drive to deliver safety excellence across all its operations.

Called ‘Together. We’re Safer. Together. We’re DB’, the campaign explicitly empowers the company’s 2,200 colleagues to intervene and stop any activity that they see, or even just feel, may be unsafe.

Every colleague has been issued with a safety intervention card which gives them the authority, backed by the UK Management Board, to step in and challenge any activity or instruction they believe is unsafe – whether that activity is being undertaken by a colleague, a customer, or contractor.

the Infrastructure Monitoring Fleet in our own right. We look to increase the range of services that we offer infrastructure owners, both in the UK and across the EMEA region, as part of our US parent company’s ambition to be the global leader in the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of specialist On Track Machines.”

The two new contracts with Network Rail commenced in April 2022 and cover an initial period of two years, with an option to extend this to five years. These contracts will support 30 existing jobs and create 20 additional roles at the Derby based business.

Colleagues are then encouraged to follow a simple, nonbureaucratic process known as ‘STOP. DISCUSS. RESOLVE. REVIEW.’ which has been used effectively in many other industries to improve companies’ overall safety performance.

The campaign will be supported by a programme of behavioural safety training to be rolled out to all groundstaff, engineers, drivers and asset owners in the coming weeks.

DB Cargo UK’s Head of Safety Marc Binney said: “If we are to succeed in sustaining a positive and healthy safety culture where colleagues are comfortable to challenge unsafe acts and be open to challenge themselves, then we must work together and look out for each other. Empowering colleagues to intervene when things don’t look safe – even if their concerns ultimately prove to be unfounded – shows they care and they will not be criticised for doing so. We want colleagues to intervene with the reassurance and confidence that they have the company’s full support in doing so.”

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July 2022

Colas expands service with Kronospan Colas Rail UK’s Freight team have expanded their delivery portfolio with long-time clients, Kronospan with the addition of a new environmentally friendly service from Aberystwyth to Chirk. With support from Network Rail it is a first for locomotives utilising the Cambrian rail route in over 25 years.

The service was rolled out after a successful trial in late April, with Network Rail’s Class 97 fleet operated by its Freight team along with support from Class 37s to haul approximately 700 tonnes of timber from Aberystwyth through to the Kronospan manufacturing plant in Chirk, North Wales on a weekly basis.

The service removes 16 lorries from the road, saving a quarter of a tonne in carbon.

Download your new RFG Handbook today!

The Rail Freight Handbook is now available to download.

As well as an extensive directory section, we have invited top experts from across the rail freight sector to lay out and discuss the key issues.

As well as articles from the RFG team guest articles are included from: • Wendy Morton MP, Minister of State for Transport.

• Henry Bates, Head of Freight & National Passenger Operators, Network Rail • Chris Connelly, Deputy CEO and Rail Director, Nuclear Transport Solutions • Helen McAllister, Programme Director (Strategic Freight), GBRTT. • Bill Reeve, Director of Rail, Transport Scotland • Phil Hibberd, Engagement Manager, RSSB • Patrick Talbot, HM Principal Inspector of Railways, ORR • Andrew Malcolm, CEO, The Malcolm Group • Nick Andrew, Managing Director, Crowle Wharf Engineers (CWE) • Chris Thornes, Specialist rail lawyer, Myton Law • Clive Thomas, Commercial Director, Solent Stevedores • Chris G Jones, Group Leader, Frazer-Nash Consultancy • Chris Swan, Head of Rail, Tarmac • Multimodal 2022 Robert Jervis, Director, Clarion Events.

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Lineas and North Sea Port shift another 15,000 containers to rail between Belgium and Italy Lineas is launching a new daily intermodal rail connection between Piadena in Italy and Belgium. The new service will run from the Interface Terminal in North Sea Port to the Pesanti terminal in Piadena and allow customers to shift another 15,000 containers from road to rail.

Lineas said it is seeing rising customer demand for more intermodal capacity between the two countries. Lars Redeligx,

Shippeo and Everysens strengthen their intermodal visibility Shippeo, a leader in global and multimodal transport visibility, has partnered with Everysens, a leading provider of rail and intermodal TMS software, to strengthen their multimodal visibility offering.

This two-way partnership allows Everysens to benefit from Shippeo’s extensive network of road and sea carriers, which provides rail and intermodal shippers and their customers with high quality shipment tracking data. By sharing accurate and reliable road ETAs and maritime shipment events, Everysens can better anticipate the impacts of these flows on rail logistics.

In return, Shippeo receives from Everysens a stream of railway events, including ETAs, GPS positions and loading statuses.

Everysens provides ETAs for full trains, but also for single wagons, a unique feature in

July 2022

News in Brief

Chief Commercial Officer at Lineas said: “Customers are really looking to decarbonise their supply chain with smart and low-carbon rail transport, and this is exactly what we want to help them with. On top of the 70 trains we already run between Belgium and Italy, we are now creating capacity for another 15,000 containers to be shifted to rail. The new line starts with five weekly roundtrips and the fill rate is currently at 80% filling up fast. Trains will carry cargo such as chemicals, steel, tiles, household goods, bulk, and powders in all types of containers”.

• Europorte is working with Beacon Rail and the Belgian company Transurb modernise its fleet of Euro4000 locomotives by investing in ETCS technology.

• METRANS is set to launch a new service in Central Europe, connecting the DCT Gdansk terminal in Poland with its container terminal Ostrava in the Czech Republic. The connection will commence on 5 September, with the first train departing Ostrava, followed by three weekly roundtrips.

the market. This enhanced visibility on all rail freight modes will be available worldwide for Shippeo customers. In addition, Everysens covers the entire transport process: tendering, collaborative smart planning, consignment notes and CO2 emissions.

• Iris Hilb has been appointed the new Head of Sales at Wascosa AG. She starts on 1 October and brings with her more than 20 years of experience in European

Lucien Besse, COO and co-founder at Shippeo, said: “Due to disruptive global events, shippers are facing more and more logistical challenges, and want to know when their shipments will arrive at their destination.”

rail logistics at DB Cargo.

Dr Youness Lemrabet, CEO and founder of Everysens, added: “Rail is already an important link in multimodal logistics. The effects of the European Green Deal are rapidly positioning rail as the future of freight.

The objective is clear: 30% modal share for rail by 2030, with an estimated impact of 290 million tonnes ofCO2 saved. To achieve this, rail needs new entrants, for which intermodal is the first point of entry. Thanks to this partnership, we can make the link between rail and the first and last mile transport modes, to make modal shift a reality.”

Contact the RFG Team: • Maggie Simpson OBE, Director-General, 07737 007957 • Phil Smart, Assistant Policy Manager, 07810 376201 • Phillippa O’Shea, Administration Manager, 07931 763081 • Yvonne Mulder, Project Manager, 07887 767666 • James Falkner, Media Officer, 07753 271110 • Martin Bignell, Scottish and Northern Representative, 07748 533603 • Robin Smith, Welsh Representative, 07968 488905

• XPO has started a second weekly intermodal service between Ballina and the Port of Waterford, less than a year after the inaugural service. The line to Waterford’s Belview freight terminal has been in jeopardy in recent years, but the boost in continental trade, much of it attributed to traders seeking to avoid Brexit complications, has seen a turnaround in fortunes for the port.

• TX Logistik AB has run a train with a length of 838m in Sweden. The fully loaded train ran over a 500km route between Malmö and Frövi (Örebro province) carrying foodstuffs from the Swedish retail chain Coop were transported.

RFG News is published by the Rail Freight Group, 7 Bury Place, London, WC1A. Tel: 020 3116 0007 contact@rfg.org.uk. RFG welcomes comments, letters and short articles. Opinions expressed are of the author only. RFG does not endorse the services of its advertisers.

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