Great Western Coffee Shop

Consultation Question 11

If you are a freight operator or represent the freight industry, please set out your expectations of likely future demand for freight capacity across the routes served by the franchise.

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19037 for the background to this topic

Many of the "next franchise" questions have been touched on (or more than touched on!) on the forum ... and I'm starting to add a handful of reference links to topics to help when we come to look at "the whole". 

This question on freight specifically addresses freight operators and does not encourage wider public responses. However, the need to weight up the requirements of freight operators and passenger train operators effects us all.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19014.0

On the immediate question - where do members see potential changes in the freight market / lines used over coming years?

1.  I'll start with a "change to balance" ... freight - in particular containers from Southampton to the Midlands and North has grown via Basingstoke, Reading, Didcot and Oxford.   With a reduction in the plans to electrify this spine, will there be a greater potential for this traffic to be diverted to none-electric alternative routes, such as via Salisbury - Westbury - Swindon and Oxford?

2. What future traffic levels to Avonmouth and Portishead docks, and where will those trains go?

3. Would any experts like to give us an overview of freight and engineering trains operating and to operate,and reserved paths, across the area?

Just heard of a planning application in for the old Westbury Cement works to become a track construction base for HS2 ... guess that might add a bit of freight in (components) and out (track panels).   Anyone know anything of this?

The obvious route from the cement works to HS2 would be via Melksham would it not?  Is there capacity on that line for many extra freights AND your passenger aspirations? Will lightly used track be able to cope with heavy freights without falling apart?  There is potential for this to be good or bad for Melksham passengers.  It would be a shame if they are subjected to a decade of freight trains disrupting their service and leaving the route knackered.  On the other hand, some investment in the route (double tracking, passing loops, track renewal etc) could allow the freight to be minimally disruptive AND when the freight declines after HS2 is build it could leave your route in a better place for expansion of the passenger service.

Just one thing that I don't understand - the Westbury Cement works is disused is it not (ie not making cement).  Whilst it seems sensible to make cement articles next to an active cement works, what is the advantage of making them next to a disused cement work.  Is Westbury really the most convenient rail connected brown field site for HS2? 

Apparently, the Westbury Cement Works is currently mothballed, rather than disused.

From the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-37395507), in September 2016:


My highlighting. CfN.  :)

I wonder if Dickens could have made something of 'Freight Expectations' for a novel?

I was going to ask 'what the Dickens' was going on ' with the thread title . but trainer beat me to it ...again ! ??? Just one pathetic sad puff from me this time.

He could have had a bash at writing "A Tale of Two Intercities" as a sequel.
 

Remember Dickens was involved in a serious train crash, and wrote 'The signalman' not long after !

Sadly, at the moment I can only see 'Hard Times' as the most appropriate.

Every time I hear the term Aged P I can't help but think of a Pacer !...

May I also offer our readers a link to 'The Old Curiosity Shop (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18964.0)'.  ;) :D ;D