Media centre

Friday 3 Mar 2006

TYNE VALLEY SERVICES

Region & Route:

Network Rail and rail freight operators EWS, Freightliner and GB Railfreight are advising people living near the Tyne Valley railway line between Carlisle and Newcastle to expect additional freight trains throughout March. The trains are being diverted along the line while the Settle to Carlisle route is closed for track renewals work. Normally 25 freight trains a day use the line as well as passenger services. The majority of them run during the day, with a handful operating overnight. From Monday 6 March, that number will increase to approximately 65 with around half running during the night. Gary Openshaw, area general manager from Network Rail, said:  “The Settle and Carlisle route is one of the key freight routing corridors on the rail network, delivering coal from Scotland to Yorkshire power stations and materials to British Gypsum.  During the closure of this route, the only practical alternative diversionary route for these services is the Tyne Valley line.  These trains form part of an important supply chain for the electricity supply industries, so it is vital that they continue to run.”  The rail freight industry will use class 66 locomotives on the vast majority of their services on the Tyne Valley line for these services.  These locomotives are some of the most modern and environmentally friendly in the country, and are quieter, more fuel-efficient and produce less emissions than older freight locomotives. EWS is also to run two ‘double length’ coal trains a day of 42 wagons, pulled by two locomotives.  This will increase the amount of coal delivered during one train journey, which otherwise would require two trains and represents an efficient use of capacity on the rail network.  A train of this length will deliver enough coal to meet the electricity requirements of over 300 homes for an entire year.