The Line Today
Although the Berry Wiggins refinery and APCM cement works closed in 1972 and the BP refinery in 1997, Grain remains an active railway terminal as the forwarding point for granite shipped from Scotland.
The line is freight-only and services run from Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend enthusiasts excursions or Serco test trains. Approximately one train per hour runs on weekdays throughout the line. Currently the line sees use from:
- (i) EWS and GB rail freight ballast from Foster Yeoman's aggregate terminal at Grain where an 08 shunter can usually be found,
- (ii) Freightliner services to and from Thamesport and
- (iii) a Fastline intermodal service to Thamesport.
As well as the Fastline 56 locomotives, Class 66s are predominantly to be seen on the line, with occasional sightings of 59s and 60s.
One of the proposals for a Thames Estuary Airport is in the Isle of Grain area and the railway, given its gentle curvatures, could possibly be upgraded to support high-speed railway traffic, though this would probably involve electrification and double-tracking.
Read more about this topic: Hundred Of Hoo Railway
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