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Colossal cargo conveyor belt to tackle driver shortage in Japan
The truck driver shortage is not, it seems, confined to the UK and efforts across the globe are emerging to tackle the situation.
One such solution coming from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan is a 310-mile-long conveyor belt called the “Autoflow-Road”, a network of automated logistics roads carrying goods via a combination of above-ground tracks and tunnels (to reduce above ground congestion).
The Ministry has taken its inspiration from the mining industry, specifically the 23-km (14-mile) conveyor belt in KÅchi prefecture and the 100-km (62-mile) belt in Western Sahara.
The ministry says the system “will not only address the logistics crisis but also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
It is hoped that each conveyor belt pallet will be able to hold up to one ton of cargo. In a 24-hour cycle, the ministry estimates the Autoflow-Road can deliver the same amount of freight as 25,000 drivers.
I can see (sand) for miles and miles and... a section of the 100-km (62-mile) conveyor belt in Western Sahara
It might be a while before we see the plan come to fruition (the ministry has suggested a completion date circa 2034), and cost estimates vary from 7 billion yen (£33 million) to 80 billion yen (£388 million)
Published On: 11/07/2024 15:15:00
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News In Brief
āHidden gemā UK military base reopened for civilian and freight use
Eastriggs, formerly one of the UK’s largest munitions factories, has been reactivated after 14 years out of service.
The site, acquired by Rail Sliding Limited, is located near the Scotland/England border just off the West Coast Main Line (WCML) and has already received engineering traffic supporting the civilian network.
Initially the site will be used for rolling stock storage and maintenance, with extensive potential to support economic growth and job creation in the region. Longer-term plans include engineering support and rail freight operations.
Rail Siding Limited Managing Director, Gary Draisey, told RailFreight.com: “The place is a real hidden gem. It’s not just the location. It was finding such a large yard, in almost perfect condition, despite long years of disuse.
“Our first train was part of the Network Rail Winter Fleet. Colas Rail [who provide fleet support to Network Rail] used our facilities to help store these units in a secure and accessible site to support future winter operations in the north.”
Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Advisor, Ellis Shelton said: “Companies on both sides of the border could benefit from Eastriggs. For local enterprises, Eastriggs is an appealing option because of its large yard and amenities, which include long platform spaces, a loco shed and wide sidings all situated on a very safe site.
“The location of the site could also be beneficial to both the UK and Scottish governments in working towards their rail freight growth targets, which will not be achievable without new railfreight facilities.”
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