New capabilities, improved pathing
Research short: We’re reassessing sectional running times to improve freight capacity.
Aaron Rostron-BarrettHead of Research Delivery, RSSB
At RSSB, we’re acutely aware that what worked yesterday isn’t necessarily going to work tomorrow. This often means looking at historical methods, assessing their use and value in today’s world, and finding ways to keep them relevant in this era of growth and transformation.
In our recent podcast episode with Andrea Rossi, CEO of DB Cargo (UK), he told us that the freight sector is striving for ‘longer, heavier, and faster’ goods trains. This will be key for freight’s growth. And achieving it will mean reassessing current operational rules and ways of working—particularly sectional running times (SRTs).
SRTs are a measure of how long it takes for a train to travel between two timing points. As a key component in timetable planning, they are used by planners to create paths across the network for different trains of varying loads and speed capabilities.
The issue, however, is that current freight SRTs often aren’t reflective of modern locomotives’ capabilities. Because they’re based on older rolling stock, many believe they’re too conservative, therefore limiting the pathing options available.
Our research team is currently running a project with Network Rail Wales and Borders to recalculate SRTs based on modern freight train capabilities. The goal is to determine whether this will lead to additional pathing opportunities and increase overall capacity on the freight network.
Our findings to date have already helped industry better understand the limitations of the current SRTs. We’ve also been able to give guidance on how to improve them.
Supporting Network Rail Wales and Borders, we’re now challenging current SRTs along three key freight routes:
the South Wales Main Line between Robeston Wathen and the Severn Tunnel
Newport to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury to Bidston.
For these routes, updated SRTs will feature in 2025’s December timetable. The aim is to improve capacity and reduce delays in these areas.
Longer-term, our hope is that this project will support the sector’s need for longer, heavier, and faster trains, guaranteeing sustained growth.
Want to learn more?
To read our findings in full, head over to our Research Catalogue.
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