NEWS\\\


A UK company is aiming to set up a nationwide high-speed rail freight system, including a link to Heathrow cargo terminal. Orion, a subsidiary of Derby-


based Rail Operations, plans to set up a network of fast freight trains using converted redundant passenger carriages that would be able to run on both electric or diesel traction. Rail


Operations chief


executive Karl Watts told the All-Party Parliamentary Rail Group in London on 14 May that 3,500 rail passenger carriages are due to come out of service in the near future but that they could have a second life as freight carriers. Orion plans to convert a proportion of them to carry freight with roller-shutter doors and equip them with bi- mode traction to enable them to operate at 100mph or even 125mph in some cases. The ability to operate on both electric or diesel would give more flexibility in avoiding engineering work or choice of routings. Watts said the system would


probably be a hub-and-spoke network based on a location


in the Midlands and would use either dedicated freight terminals or the platforms at existing passenger stations to access city centres. He also envisaged that there


could be a terminal in the Colnbrook area near Heathrow to allow freight to be swapped between rail and air. Watts said that, aſter the opening of the third runway at Heathrow, “road alone would simply not be able to cope with the amount of traffic generated.” However, he rejected the


notion of trains operating through the Channel Tunnel to Europe at least for the time being, saying that accessing Eurotunnel infrastructure was too complicated and expensive. The trains would carry a range


of lighter freight and would plug the gap between slow, lumbering heavy freight trains averaging 20mph or so and road transport. They could carry parcels, palletised freight or even temperature-controlled goods using insulated containers. Orion expects to take delivery in early 2020 of its first two


UK pilots electronic CMR


The UK has taken part in an electronic consignment note (eCMR) pilot, along with France, the Netherlands and operators Brian Yeardley Continental, Transports FIOLET in France and Netherlands-based International Road Ferry. The project is under the supervision of the UK Department for Transport, Freight Transport Association (FTA) and equivalent bodies in the other countries. It is the first use of e-CMR on


a border crossing with multiple countries in mainland Europe and aims to offer improved profitability, efficiency and supply chain visibility. Manager of international


transport and trade procedures at FTA, John Lucy, said: “Digital technology has reshaped the way industries and governments operate for the last 20 years and international trade is no exception. The anticipated increase in EU customs documentation requirements post-Brexit will accelerate this digital development; we are already seeing EU trials of eTIR


and eATA carnets to enable future frictionless cross border travel for freight. Underpinning this will be the requirement for an electronic, internationally accepted consignment note; the e CMR will be at the core of this process.” The


paper based CMR


consignment note is an official document and contract between a consignor, carrier and addressee and is normally the sole document that drivers carry that concerns the load. Shippers or transport operators


will be able to electronically input, store and exchange logistics data, in real time, within the logistical chain, while users instantly receive information on the goods being transported. Any required subsequent actions, such as initiating legal processes, invoicing or even accident response procedures happen faster and at less cost. The next step is for the UK to


evaluate the Convention and once decided, ratify the eCMR protocol with the United Nations, a process that could be in effect by the end of 2019.


four-car bi-mode freight trains, designated as Class 769 and converted from old Class 319 electric passenger trains. These would probably be used as a proof of concept, although Watts did not rule out carrying commercial traffic if opportunities arose. Britain’s railways did carry


Issue 4 2019 - Freight Business Journal


3


large amounts of mail and parcels traffic in the past, either in dedicated trains of vans or using brake van space on passenger trains. However, Watts expects that the Orion will use freight- dedicated trains only. Currently the only regular


user of the railways for traffic of this type is Royal Mail, which uses a fleet of 100mph electric trains, mainly on longer haul north-south routes carrying bulk mail.


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