British Rail's Chunnel RHA men plans for freight return to
Page 21
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• British Rail intends to operate Freightliner-type "block" train services for timetabled movement of unit-load traffic between Britain and the principal centres on the Continent if it is decided this month to go ahead with the Channel Tunnel. The plan is explained in a booklet which has been circulated to MPs and other interested parties.
The services, far more extensive than at present provided by the train ferry ships, would serve such cities as Paris, Brussels, Lille, Cologne, Munich, Vienna, Basle, Milan, Lyons, Madrid and Barcelona, In other instances international Freightlinertype services would connect with the domestic British services.
The services would operate to and from a network of inland Customs terminals which would speed up clearance and eliminate frontier delay. Overall transit times and charges would, states BR, be highly competitive with other forms of surface transport.
The tunnel is seen as being particularly suitable for perishable traffic with the aim being to provide very fast services between the principal producing areas on the Continent and the main distribution centres in Great Britain. Bulk traffics would also be favoured by BR, particularly chemicals, steel, cars and china clay. Individual services would be negotiated, using special rolling stock from private sidings.
Forecasts suggest that in 1980 3.1 million tons of freight will pass through the tunnel and by 1991 this will have risen to 7.0m tons.
BR has recommended to the Government that an independent link for Channel Tunnel trains should be provided from White City to the tunnel entrance at Cheriton, using reconstructed existing track or new track alongside the existing Southern Region line.