British and Belgian carriers extend partnership
British GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Belgian Lineas have agreed to expand their European freight operation. Existing traffic flows from Antwerp in Belgium through to Irvine in Scotland will continue for an additional two years. The service has so far averaged around 30 trains a year.
The trains, which arrive in Calais from the Lineas rail operation, will consist of roughly 20 ICA tank rail wagons and will carry 1,200 t of product per train. It will be transporting kaolin clay for the process of whitening paper which is produced at the UPM Caledonian Papermill in South Western Scotland.
GBRf will normally collect the product on a Tuesday night and run through the channel tunnel with electric traction. A Class 66 Loco then hauls through to UPM Irvine to arrive at around 19.00 h on the Wednesday night. (ben)