European Railroad Discussion > Channel Tunnel Freight

On Tuesday morning the first train of containers will arrive in London from China. this is DBC's press release, a class 92 electric has been reliveried in celebration. Who knows whether this marks yet another relaunch of Channel Tunnel services, only time will tell.

http://uk.dbcargo.com/rail-uk-en/News_Media/news/13111170/2017-01-13-china.html?start=0

This is the expected schedule along HS1 in the early hours
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R72179/2017/01/17/advanced

although Network Rail has also posted an alternative using the 'classic' route
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R72180/2017/01/17/advanced

Whilst we await this with bated breath here are three pictures, taken in 1997 and 1998, of channel tunnel services on the classic line between London and Dollands Moor (the yard at the Network Rail / Eurotunnel boundary); a wagonload train from Lille, an intermodal from Muizen and an automotive to Brescia in Italy. All three are headed by the dual voltage class 92s built by British Rail especially for cross channel services, and today sadly underused here - best go to Romania to see them at work.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/17 11:03 by 86235.

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If those two trains are Y schedules then it's curious they have vastly different trailing tonnages.

GeoffM Wrote:
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> If those two trains are Y schedules then it's
> curious they have vastly different trailing
> tonnages.

Both trains are running as STP schedules - special traffic, one off - but the schedule via HS1 has been allocated a working timetable train number, 4L17 (4 = 75 mph, L = destination is in the Anglia region 17 = train number) whilst the classic route schedule, which appeared a day or so after the 4L17 is shown as a 4Z17, Z indicates a train which is not yet in the working timetable, i suspect the 4L17 will be the activated schedule on the night, with 4Z17 as a back up in case of an issue on HS1, so when / if it is activated the actual tonnage may change. I'm quite inclined to get up and go see this.

86235 Wrote:
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> GeoffM Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If those two trains are Y schedules then it's
> > curious they have vastly different trailing
> > tonnages.
>
> Both trains are running as STP schedules - special
> traffic, one off - but the schedule via HS1 has
> been allocated a working timetable train number,
> 4L17 (4 = 75 mph, L = destination is in the Anglia
> region 17 = train number) whilst the classic route
> schedule, which appeared a day or so after the
> 4L17 is shown as a 4Z17, Z indicates a train which
> is not yet in the working timetable, i suspect the
> 4L17 will be the activated schedule on the night,
> with 4Z17 as a back up in case of an issue on HS1,
> so when / if it is activated the actual tonnage
> may change. I'm quite inclined to get up and go
> see this.

Thanks for the headcodes - I'm familiar with the TD structure having worked in UK railway signalling for 20+ years. Certainly seem to be alternatives for the same train.

Cheers

GeoffM Wrote:
---------------------------------------
> Thanks for the headcodes - I'm familiar with the
> TD structure having worked in UK railway
> signalling for 20+ years. Certainly seem to be
> alternatives for the same train.
>
> Cheers
It's been suggested elsewhere that the Z schedule will be used if there's no 92 available and a 66 has to haul it.

Those Class 92s are good looking locmotives.  Nice photos!

dwatry Wrote:
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> Those Class 92s are good looking locmotives. 
> Nice photos!

Thanks, yes they are good looking but shockingly under utilised.

Update on China Train: it didn't run from the Tunnel this morning, I've been told there's supposed to be some press event tomorrow so I presume it will be timed for that.

Further update; due into Dollands Moor (on our side of the Tunnel) at 13:00 today.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/17 03:27 by 86235.