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New American locos for Freightliner arrive in Britain

The first American GE PowerHaul locomotives for Freightliner have arrived at Newport in South Wales. The two are the first of an eventual fleet of 30 of Class 70s. Four more should leave the US within the next month, but further deliveries are not due until later in 2010. Freightliner said the performance of the first six will be carefully monitored in service, and the first two will be divided between the Heavyhaul and Intermodal divisions of Freightliner. full story

Freight Headlines:

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  Councillors throw out plans for giant freight interchange

  PLANS for a giant rail freight depot to be built on the former Radlett Airfield site at Park Street, St Albans have been rejected by St Albans City and District Council for the second time.

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  Freight trains could move on to HS1 by next year

  CONTINENTAL-sized freight trains could be sharing the tracks of the London to Channel Tunnel HS1 route with high- speed passenger trains from early next year.

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  £55m project will improve clearances on port route

  ONE of the UK’s busiest freight routes is set to become the centre of a major £55 million project to allow easier transport of bigger containers.

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  Thumbs-up as train makes debut run into new terminal

  A Direct Rail Services test train has run from Wellington, on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line, into the Telford International Railfreight Park – before the newly relaid line becomes fully operational in May.

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  Inferno erupts after freight train derails

  A MAJOR investigation was launched after a freight train carrying diesel fuel and kerosene heating oil derailed, causing one of the tank wagons to burst into flames.