Posted 22nd October 2019 | 5 Comments

22 October: news in brief

Former Thameslink trains set to carry London Gateway freight

FORMER Thameslink trains are set to carry freight in May, when a new scheme to bring merchandise into central London is due to begin. The proposal is to use former Class 319s with their seats removed and diesel engines added, to provide local freight services between the port of London Gateway and London Liverpool Street station. The scheme has been prompted by the new charges for lorries entering the London Ultra-Low Emissions Zone, and Rail Operations Group is working with London Gateway owner DP World to develop the scheme. ROG says ‘the longer-term aspiration is to have a UK-wide network of logistics operations serving both logistics centres as well as major stations.’ A new train operating company named Orion is being set up to run the services.

Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • Colin Brown, Greater London

    Would it be simpler to electrify the line between the London Gateway port and
    the Tilbury Loop?

  • Ray Kennion, Manchester

    The article says that diesel engines are 'added'. This makes them Bi-mode. Those engines will be turned off long before they get to Liverpool Street.

  • Martin Marrison, Haywards Heath

    Sounds like a good idea to me hopefully it will go from strength to strength .

  • strawbrick, Watford

    "The scheme has been prompted by the new charges for lorries entering the London Ultra-Low Emissions Zone".
    No doubt the diesel engines to be fitted to the 319s will be fully compliant with the emissions regulations for lorries, and they will also be turned off when the trains are loading / unloading ...

  • king arthur, Buckley

    Freight returning to railway stations? Things have come full circle. They'll be announcing the resurrection of Speedlink next.