"David Hansen" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 07:05:19 -0000 someone who may be "Paul Murphy"
> <[email protected]> wrote this:-
>
>>> Many/most freight trains run at night in the UK. However, that does
>>> not mean that you assertion is true.
>>
>>Is that a yes or no? i.e. do you agree or disagree that there are other
>>countries which run the vast majority of freight trains at night - or are
>>you unsure?
>
> I am perfectly sure. One of these countries is England.
I think not by the definition of vast majority I have in mind - I estimate
over 90 %. Now you could claim that countrywide this may be the case but I'm
certain that on the lines I travel on in the South East it's not.
>>> One example is where the trains are part of a JIT system. Unless
>>> such things are to be left entirely to the lorry operators...
>>
>>That doesn't mean the freight is unsuitable for a night train - especially
>>if it arrives at it's destination in the morning.
>
> I suggest that you don't know much about JIT.
Because? What part of my argument is flawed in your opinion (bearing in mind
the manufacturer would likely benifit through lower transport costs by using
off-peak timings)? Just in time (JIT) supply chains aren't new, this was
even included in my tertiary engineering quals (which included elements of
production engineering) gained years ago.
>>The sorts of
>>freight trains I've recently seen holding up passenger trains include a
>>rubbish train,
>
> Around here IIRC such trains are run overnight. The loading and
> unloading is then done during the day.
Well I wish ALL of them were here as well but thats clearly not the case. I
also recently spotted a smelly recycling waste train during the day
travelling at low speed but I dont know if that delayed other trains. It
still wasn't pleasant having it go past the station though.
>>cement train
>
> Presumably the cement company specify when they wish to start
> unloading the train. Having an extra train in the circuit so one
> could stand in a siding until that time would push the cost up and
> mean that the business was transferred to the roads, where the
> lorries would not improve the situation faced by cyclists.
You're missing the point that the company where the cement was going to
could change their schedule to take advantage of cheaper night transport
rates in the long term. I believe if they really insist on having the trains
travel during the day, they should be penalised (a bit like congestion
charging) and that penalty should be used in ways that reduce congestion for
passenger trains.
>>and a covered vehicle train going to the
>>continent (although interestingly, by the time it got there, it would be
>>well and truly night time
>
> If it was going to Italy then my recollection is that the transit
> time is something around 22 hours and thus it will be operated at
> various times of the day on its journey.
No I was told Germany (although in fairness I don't know what part). I was
curious what was in the very secure looking train (which looked like the
wagons had to be uncoupled to open them up) so I asked one of the local
station staff. No the train didn't contain bikes and this doesn't relate to
bikes anymore so I fear this is off topic. It still, meant that the
continent was getting priority for goods trains travelling at night and we
were stuck with it's journey during day light hours.
Paul