Dollands Moor

Dollands Moor

By late 1987, it had been proposed that Willesden would be the main yard at which marshalling of Channel Tunnel freight trains would take place. Customs clearance for such loads would also be undertaken here, in addition to using an alternative ‘’check-in’’ facility proposed at Ashford. Concern had been raised on the issue of centralising all freight on Willesden, for it reduced flexibility and ensured train despatches would be delayed. For instance, freight from Crewe would first have to stop off at Willesden for customs clearance, before proceeding onto the tunnel portal. Another, more desirable option, was to marshal and give clearance to freights at their originating point. Railfreight Distribution came on the scene on 10th October 1988, after the merger of SpeedLink and Freightliner, and in 1989 the Business Sector decided to opt for the latter strategy. Despite taking these measures to allow freight an uninterrupted passage across the country and to the tunnel portal, there was one stop which trains could not avoid: that at Dollands Moor.

Dollands Moor had been part of the Channel Tunnel plan since the British and French governments ratified the ''Fixed Link Treaty'' in Canterbury on 29th July 1987. The yard formed an operational security requirement of Chunnel freight, where final safety inspections could be undertaken before formations embarked on their journey to the continent; hence, it is officially known as a ‘’freight inspection facility’’. Construction on this mass of electrified lines began in January 1988, some two miles west of the tunnel portal. From start to finish, the complex was 0.9 miles long and when completed, comprised ten loop sidings (and one bypass line) capable of accommodating formations half a mile in length. Predictions concerning the level of Chunnel freight traffic suggested that the capacity of Dollands Moor yard alone would not be enough, thus additional sidings at Ashford were to be used for freight inspection, too. Whilst existing primarily for safety checking, the yard was also to be used as an exchange point between diesel and electric motive power. To check that the overhead wires were functioning correctly, Class 86 No. 86208 ''City of Chester'' was brought to the site on 24th April 1992, Class 47 No. 47973 having hauled it across the South Eastern Division from Willesden.

With the commencement of Eurostar services through the Channel Tunnel on 14th November 1994, a noticeable flaw in the track design came to light. This centred on ‘’Continental Junction’’, which was positioned at the eastern end of Dollands Moor and was the point of convergence for the Chunnel line, the domestic Kent Coast route, and the freight yard. Eurostar services were, at times, subject to delays caused by freights exiting the yard and incoming Kent Coast services. Consequently, in 2002, it was decided to move the junction approximately ¾ mile westwards. This was to allow the re-alignment of the Kent Coast line in order to accommodate the newly elevated track bed of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The latter came into use on 28th September 2003, offering shorter journey times. Since November 1997, EWS has operated the freight inspection yard at Dollands Moor, having bought out Railfreight Distribution on the 22nd of that month.

A general westward view over the site on 18th June 2006 encompasses what was the original

set-up, before the CTRL. In the foreground is the double-track which, until September 2003,

was used by Trans Manche Super Trains during voltage changeover between third rail and

overhead wires. These rails now seem to have a layer of rust upon them, but the overhead

wires are still maintained above. In the background can just be seen an MPV. David Glasspool

Three Class 92s were in evidence on 18th June 2006, the nearest two being No. 92011 ''Handel''

and No. 92037 ''Sullivan'', on the left and right respectively. In addition to being an inspection

yard, the location is also where a change of motive power often occurs, diesel giving over to

electric for continent-bound freight, and sometimes the reverse happening for UK-bound traffic.

There are 40 drivers based at the yard. David Glasspool

An eastward view on 18th June 2006 reveals some of the new works. On the far right is the

Kent Coast domestic line, in its newly slewed position. The single-track alongside this is the

''up'' CTRL line, whilst on the left of the central partition is the original double-track of 1994,

where the changeover between third rail and overhead wires occur. Beyond this is, naturally,

the yard. David Glasspool

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