The first freight train from Yiwu, China to Barking Ripple Lane terminal in East London arrived today. Train 6Z21 pulled by Class 92 locomotive 92015 in fresh DB Schenker UK red paint and special vinyls advertising the event. It pulled 10 two platform container wagons each with a ISO 40' container loaded with apparel and consumer items. In addition there are 7 more container flat sets waiting at Dollands Moor to come up tonight. All containers on the train are TBJU registered to China Railway Container Transport Corp. The train used the Channel Tunnel Raillink(HS1) from Dollands Moor to Barking running in a gap between Eurostar passenger trains during daylight hours. The gap was created when Eurostar reduced the number of Paris trains due to the introduction of new higher-capacity e320 trainsets from Siemens and a fall in passenger numbers after the announcement of Brexit and the terror attacks in Paris and Brussels.
That's a long train trip. How many countries did that train pass through? I read that the train had to change gauge more than once. How can that be done economically ?
rluke That's a long train trip. How many countries did that train pass through? I read that the train had to change gauge more than once. How can that be done economically ?
The change in gauge is between China which is standard gauge, and any former Soviet Union country (Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and so on which are 1520mm gauge, about five feet). Then the gauge needs to be changed back to run through Iran or Turkey and the rest of Europe.
If the trucks have self contained air brakes not relying on body mounted cylinders and pull rods, you disconnect flexible piping/hoses to the brake cylinders and swap the trucks over. Fairly simple and fast.
If the traffic is all in container, it might be quicker just to move the cotainers from a wagon of one gauge to another.
Gauge Change?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogaeYN2bb4&t=54s
M636CIf the traffic is all in container, it might be quicker just to move the cotainers from a wagon of one gauge to another.
My thought as well. Far easier than changing trucks.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
The route was and will be;
China
Kazakhstan
Russia
Belarus
Poland
Germany
Belgium
France
Britain
The containers were transferred to flatcars of the appropriate gauge at the China - Kazakhstan border and the Russian - Polish border.
[quote user="rluke"]
[/quote] As the OP had posted [in part]: Posted by beaulieu on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 5:50 PM
From OP's Post: "...The first freight train from Yiwu, China to Barking Ripple Lane terminal in East London arrived today. Train 6Z21 pulled by Class 92 locomotive 92015 in fresh DB Schenker UK red paint and special vinyls advertising the event. It pulled 10 two platform container wagons each with a ISO 40' container loaded with apparel and consumer items. In addition there are 7 more container flat sets waiting at Dollands Moor to come up tonight. All containers on the train are TBJU registered to China Railway Container Transport Corp..."
As Poster rluke and inferred by the OP's comments. It seems that the only conclusion is that economics had really nothing to do with this 1st movement from China to England.
It seems to smack of strictly political theater and 'a stunt'. There is no way that a couple of containers of clothing and several more of undisclosed products could justify the transportation costs. It seems the timing at the event of P.M. May's Speech about the UK's upcoming policies and its role in BREXIT would be suspicious. Not to mention, the concurrent financial meetings taking place in Davos, with China taking a more prominent role there.
The rails are there, and joined across various borders; the changing of 'running gear to match the local gauge has been done for years, and also the lifting of the containers from one type of railroad car to another can be done with some enginuity. Maybe, the biggest threat might have been the locals pilfering the train while it halted during the various stages of its trip (?). Just
According to a newspaper reports the tariff per container was 5000 GBP so something on the order of $221,000 for the whole trainload that arrived in Britain( 34 containers total).
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.