UK Freight Speed

60mph for class 6 trains (Most freight vehicles) .
75mph for class 4 trains (container trains).

Bogie coal hoppers (HTA etc) are 60 loaded 75 empty.

:)
 
It's interesting to note the difference between how you guys govern speed limits compared to us. In the UK (Please correct me if I'm wrong) you guys use speed signs to indicate the current speed limits for a train. Over here, we are given debriefing sheets that show the mileposts and they're respective speed indications. We don't get the easy way of knowing how fast we can go.:hehe:

cam
 
applegathc said:
It's interesting to note the difference between how you guys govern speed limits compared to us. In the UK (Please correct me if I'm wrong) you guys use speed signs to indicate the current speed limits for a train. Over here, we are given debriefing sheets that show the mileposts and they're respective speed indications. We don't get the easy way of knowing how fast we can go.:hehe:

cam
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The major difference is that there is a lot more passenger traffic on the lines in the UK and it travels at a fairly high speed.

Also the loading gauge in North America is higher and wider so freight is heavier and typically much longer so the trains have more momentum.

The most economical speed for freight is about 30 mph which is sort of the speed most US and Canadian freight travels but in the UK Passenger traffic actually has priority unlike the US where an Amtrak train can be held up for six hours for a freight train. So the freight traffic has to move much faster in order not to hold up the passenger traffic. Hence the higher speeds.

Cheerio John
 
Substantial investment in the railfreight industry has led to significant improvements in freight train speeds over these last couple of years, express mail trains already run at 110 m.p.h; whilst the latest intermodal trains can now do 90 m.p.h; unfortunately, I'm unsure if this applies to the WCML alone, or, on Britain's railways in general.

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.
 
applegathc said:
wow...Intermodal doing 90...that's something!:eek:

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They fairly fly along my local line - Soham**, Cambs on the Ely to Newmarket line. Not at 90mph but it still surprises me to see them at 75mph. It would be nice to see something other than 66's hauling them though!

Still, the Drivers always have time for a wave and a blast on the horn for me and four year old daughter, which always makes my...I mean 'Her'.....day.

(**Soham station was famously destroyed during WW2 when a munitions train caught fire and exploded.)
 
There are still some Class 7 freights about on the UK network with maximum speed of 45 MPH, most notably in this neck of the woods loaded stone trains out of the Mendip quarries - due to the (for UK) length and weight of the consists.

Now they are a real challenge to regulate in between HST's running up to 125 MPH!
 
ex-railwayman said:
Substantial investment in the railfreight industry has led to significant improvements in freight train speeds over these last couple of years, express mail trains already run at 110 m.p.h; whilst the latest intermodal trains can now do 90 m.p.h; unfortunately, I'm unsure if this applies to the WCML alone, or, on Britain's railways in general.

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.
Click to expand...

Where did you here this as all the 325's have a top speed of 100mph only and all the new flats are limited to 75mph on a class 4 service and there are no class 3 intermodals which are the only other 90mph+ headcode. The 325's run on the WCML under a 1XXX headcode and all the intermodals run under a 4XXX headcode which has a top speed of 75mph. So whoever told you this information was telling you some old porkie pies Ex sorry.
 
I live in Warrington right in the middle of the WCML and the intermodal trains regulary shoot through Bank Quay at over 75 and on my regular jaunts to Preston again you see them shoot through at over 75 although it is a pretty streight stretch (apart from the 2 curving junctions just outside Warrington). Since the upgrade I'm sure freight speeds have increased.

:)

Andy
 
For a start the class 66's are limited to 75mph so please tell me how they can shoot through at more than that and Preston Station as a limit of about 30mph IIRC so your telling me drivers are breaking the rules? I don't think so. Also the class 92's are limited to 90mph and the 90's are at 110mph and the 86's 100mph as you don't get that many of the electric locos on Intermodals your way please tell me how the freight your way can break the rules.
 
With due respects, very few people can accurately judge the speed of fast vehicles and inevitably over-estimate.
 
Louise_T said:
For a start the class 66's are limited to 75mph so please tell me how they can shoot through at more than that and Preston Station as a limit of about 30mph IIRC so your telling me drivers are breaking the rules? I don't think so. Also the class 92's are limited to 90mph and the 90's are at 110mph and the 86's 100mph as you don't get that many of the electric locos on Intermodals your way please tell me how the freight your way can break the rules.
Click to expand...

I have only ever seen Class 90's pull intermodal traffic through Warrington Bank Quay. 66s only pull the coal traffic to Fiddlers Ferry.

:)

Andy

Teddytoot - you could be right I supose a train would look alot faster going at 75mph than a car doing 75 coz of the length
 
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As an aside to this topic. I was travelling across country on a Virgin Voyager which was travelling rather slowly. A message from the train manager over the intercom apologised for the slow speed but we were following a slow moving goods train! On the same journey later as we passed Dawlish Warren travelling along the sea wall... A wave washed over the train which then came to a halt as water got into engine. Then a two hour wait for the train to be rescued and towed to Newton Abbot... On transferring to another train at Newton Abbot that was rostered to Plymouth, this train was then rerostered to Penzance so that people could complete thier journey. On arrival at Truro Virgin provided a taxi to complete our journey to Falmouth. We eventually arrived at our destination 6 hours late.... I can add that the train staff and Virgin as a company were brilliant and opened the buffet car and gave everyone free refreshments. They then took everyones name and address and a few days later we recieved a refund for our fares.
Dennis
 
Wow Snowhill that sounds like the journey from hell. At least you got good staff (usually the Virgin staff act that up thight you'd thourght they still were 'not in the company sence of the word').

It happens quite frequently on that part of the line somthing needs to be done but that line is beautifull and it would be sacralidge to close it.

:D

Andy
 
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