Two lorry semi-trailers arrived in London by train today (22 May 2012) as heralds of what could be a freight revolution for Britain.

The road trailers were brought through the Channel Tunnel by rail from Belgium and along High Speed One to Barking, east London, and a return load of semi-trailers was sent back to Antwerp.

At long last, the tunnel could be living up to some of its green promise by providing what is normal in Europe – a railway rolling road with lorries carried on trains.

Since its opening 20 years ago, the tunnel has failed to deliver for rail freight.

The bulk of freight through the tunnel is carried on lorries on Eurotunnel’s shuttle trains which ply between Calais and Folkestone. The lorries continue to pound the roads through Kent on their way to and from the tunnel terminal near Folkestone.

Even worse, a fraction of the number of freight trains which should have used the tunnel have materialised.

Now though, with new low "pocket" rail wagons and specially designed road semi-trailers, things could start to change.

Ewals Intermodal has invested in thousands of semi-trailers and is planning a regular piggy-back service through the tunnel to London from continental Europe.

Dennis Steeghs of Ewals was at Barking today to see the first semi-trailers offloaded and said: “We are proud to be the first through the tunnel and along High Speed One with these trailers.

“Our motto is 'heading for tomorrow' and this is the next step on our way forward.

“We want to carry as many as trailers as possible on rail. We are proud to be lean and green.

“We think the service will be successful because of road congestion and also because they are environmentally friendly.”

The trailers were delivered to the Russell Railfreight terminal at Barking with the active co-operation of Europorte Channel which is owned by the Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel.

The aim is to attract traffic from Belgium, Germany and eastern Europe and remove thousands of lorries from the roads of Europe – and Kent – to provide a next-day service.

To maximise clearance, the semi trailers are equipped with pneumatic suspension which can be lowered when on the rail wagon.

The new service enables complete trailers, including wheels, flatbed and load to be carried swiftly across Europe by rail but without the lorry cab or lorry driver.

"It is fast and cost-efficient with a very low carbon footprint," says Europorte Channel.

At the moment, the lorry-carrying trains can only travel as far as London (via the Channel Tunnel and High Speed One). Once High Speed Two is built, the lorry-carrying trains will be able to travel as far as Birmingham.

Europorte is also hoping that the structure gauge of the West Coast main line will be increased to accommodate the bigger wagons. There is already a link from HS1 just north of St Pancras that could be used for this kind of traffic.

The Barking depot could also be used for the proposed TGV postal service from France.

More information: europorte

EWALS