Improving sectional running times to unlock freight growth
Current freight sectional running times (SRTs) used for timetable planning are inaccurate. This is due to old assumptions about locomotive and wagon capabilities.
Such inaccuracies can lead to underestimations of the time needed for freight trains to run. This may cause delays to other services on the line.
Inaccuracies can also mean overestimation of the time needed. In turn, this means unnecessary longer journey times and higher costs. It also removes pathing opportunities that are otherwise completely safe and possible.
Building on RSSB’s work on train trailing loads limits, we developed an improved methodology to determine freight SRTs.
We used five case studies to assess the validity and benefits of the new SRT value vs. current ones. We found that every analysed route had opportunities for improved assumptions and an overall reduction of journey time.
This work unlocked benefits estimated to be worth up to £16 million per year.
This is by enabling:
- existing trains to travel faster
- heavier and/or longer trains to travel within the existing timings
- improved resilience and reduced delay
- rail freight growth by opening new paths.
The methodology has already been used to improve freight timetables across the GB network, in particular by Freightliner and by Network Rail Wales & Borders Region.