RHTT 2019: Everything You Need to Know

Here is everything you need to know about RHTT 2019

RHTT (Rail Head Treatment Trains) will be starting in a few months(around end of September), here is everything you need to know about the RHTT season for 2019.

What is RHTT?

RHTT stands for Rail Head Treatment Trains. During Autumn, the period of September to December sees frequent leaf fall onto the railway tracks. These leaves fall onto the rails and are crushed by passing trains, causing wheels to slip. These adhesion problems mean trains slip and need to travel slower on approaches to stations, and occasionally have problems leaving stations – this leads to cancellations of services as well as wheel flats on trains.

RHTT trains spray water onto the rail heads. The jets blast away the leaf debris from the rails reducing the occurrence of issues.

UK RHTT trains are hauled by diesel or electro-diesel locomotives in addition to NR MPVs (Multi Purpose Vehicles).

• In the South East, RHTT trains are operated by GB Railfreight, using class 66/7 or 73.
• In the South West and Chilterns, RHTT trains are operated by DB Cargo, using class 66 or class 67.
  • Whilst operated by DB Cargo, 2018’s RHTT on the Chilterns used Freightliner locos. This is due to DB needing its locos on other workings.
• The London Euston to Bescott trains are GB Railfreight this year.
• Anglia, RHTT trains are operated by Direct Rail Services class 37s.
• Throughout West Midlands, RHTT trains are operated by Colas Rail, often using class 56. Although this year, the Gloucester based RHTT is colas class 66s. Shrewsbury is 56s.
• In the North, RHTT trains are Direct Rail Services, who often use class 37 or class 20 locomotives.
• Scottish RHTT trains are run by MPV but sometimes in rare cases can be loco hauled.
• Network Rail MPVs, operated by Balfour Beatty and JSD Research and Development, are operated throughout the country, providing additional RHTT services out of locations such as Wigan, Horsham TC, Effingham Junction etc.

When does RHTT start 2019?

RHTT has started for 2019 already.

RHTT starts at different times of the year throughout the UK. RHTT usually starts around late September / early October throughout the UK. There’s usually a few VSTP test paths several days before the services commence. Following this, the WTT paths will start to become activated, and then some days these WTT paths will run. Some days there will also be STP and VSTP RHTT paths.

RHTT trains will use a headcode beginning with 3, regardless of whether it is a real headcode or NR obfuscated one. Either way, we have included the RHTT train headcodes and their associated departure times, below. They will also have a service code usually beginning with a 9. The below headcodes and departure times are valid for 2019 only.

RHTT spray tanks are stored at York Thrall Europa throughout the year, and usually brought to their regional based yards such as Tonbridge, a few weeks before the RHTT programme starts.

The first sets of RHTT tanks have started being delivered to yards around the UK

• 2019 Stowmarket sets delivered 03/09/19 by 37402
• 2019 Coleham sets delivered 27/08/19 by 56096 (642039  FEA + 642014  FEA+ 642012  FEA+ 642032  FEA+ 642016  FEA + 642045  FEA + 642027  FEA)
• 2019 Carlisle sets delivered 14/08/19 by 68005
• Peterborough sets delivered by 66041 (6T06) from Doncaster on 11/09/19
• 66779 delivered 4Z66 sets from York Thrall Europa to Whitemoor LDC on 12/09/19, for onward delivery to Tonbridge West Yard GBRF on 13/09/19
• In addition, 66783, 73136, 73109 and 66712 worked Peterborough to Tonbridge West Yard GBRF with a rake of RHTT tanks on 17/09/19

RHTT Times 2019

Subject to change, cancellation and VSTP/STP rescheduling if required. These are the WTT paths for this year. You can use Rail Record Live Train Times to see which ones are running on the day. Typical traction is placed in brackets, but actual allocations may vary.

We’ve bunched all workings for the whole week into one lot shown below instead of splitting them into Monday – Sunday but if you check the live train times for the times listed below you should find the respective ones. We haven’t included MPVs (or if we have let us know and we’ll get rid of it).

RHTT Loco Hauled Diagrams 2019

Those are the loco hauled diagrams for RHTT 2019. If there’s any missing, or if any are incorrect, please get in touch below. Some of the above run weekdays, whilst others run Saturdays or Sundays only.

The below is user-contributed. If anything is incorrect please post in comments.

Some of the below only run certain days of the week. Check live train times to see which run on which day and remember to check if activated/running.

Carlisle Based RHTT (Class 66/37)

3J11 Carlisle Kingmoor – Carlisle Kingmoor via S+C (66)
3S94 Carlisle Kingmoor – Carlisle Kingmoor via Kirkconnel and Dumfries (37)
3S77 Carlisle Kingmoor – Carlisle Kingmoor via Middlesborough (37)

Stowmarket Based RHTT ( Class 37)

3S60 09:01 Stowmarket D.G.L. to Stowmarket D.G.L.
3S01 09:22 Stowmarket D.G.L. to Stowmarket D.G.L.
3S10 19:39 Stowmarket D.G.L. to Stowmarket D.G.L.
3S11 19:39 Stowmarket D.G.L. to Stowmarket D.G.L.
3S50 19:45 Stowmarket D.G.L. to Stowmarket D.G.L.
3S30 21:52 Stowmarket D.G.L. to Stowmarket D.G.L.
3S65 23:59 Stowmarket D.G.L. to Stowmarket D.G.L.

Carlisle Based RHTT (Class 66/37)

3J11 Carlisle Kingmoor – Carlisle Kingmoor via S+C (66)
3S94 Carlisle Kingmoor – Carlisle Kingmoor via Kirkconnel and Dumfries (37)
3S77 Carlisle Kingmoor – Carlisle Kingmoor via Middlesborough (37)

York Based RHTT (Class 20 / 37 / 66)

3S11 York Thrall Europa via Sheffield
3Z46 York Thrall Europa via Peterboroug
3S21 York Thrall Europa via Selby

0943 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa via Scarborough

Gloucester Based RHTT (Class 66)

3S31 18:14 Gloucester Horton Road to Gloucester Horton Road
3S32 22:37 Gloucester Horton Road to Cheltenham Lansdown Loop
3S33 11:08 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Gloucester Horton Road
3S33 11:05 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Gloucester Horton Road

3S31 13:11 Gloucester Horton Road to Worcester Shrub Hill
3S32 00:31 Worcester Shrub Hill to Didcot Parkway
3S33 05:28 Didcot Parkway to Gloucester Horton Road

https://live.rail-record.co.uk/rail/liverail/full/GLOSTHR

Shrewsbury Based RHTT (Class 56) 

3S71 19:43 Shrewsbury Coleham Ss to Shrewsbury Coleham Ss
3S71 21:20 Shrewsbury Coleham Ss to Shrewsbury Coleham Ss

https://live.rail-record.co.uk/rail/liverail/full/SHRWCSS

Gloucester Based RHTT (Class 56)

3S31 18:14 Gloucester Horton Road to Gloucester Horton Road
3S32 22:37 Gloucester Horton Road to Cheltenham Lansdown Loop
3S33 11:08 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Gloucester Horton Road
3S33 11:05 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Gloucester Horton Road

3S31 13:11 Gloucester Horton Road to Worcester Shrub Hill
3S32 00:31 Worcester Shrub Hill to Didcot Parkway
3S33 05:28 Didcot Parkway to Gloucester Horton Road

https://live.rail-record.co.uk/rail/liverail/full/GLOSTHR

Shrewsbury Based RHTT (Class 56) 

3S71 19:43 Shrewsbury Coleham Ss to Shrewsbury Coleham Ss
3S71 21:20 Shrewsbury Coleham Ss to Shrewsbury Coleham Ss

https://live.rail-record.co.uk/rail/liverail/full/SHRWCSS

Broxbourne Based RHTT (Class 66)

Click here for today’s FRGTs at Broxbourne

3S20 20:48 Broxbourne Dn Tamp Sdg Gbf to Broxbourne Dn Tamp Sdg Gbf
3S40 19:26 Broxbourne Dn Tamp Sdg Gbf to Broxbourne Dn Tamp Sdg Gbf
3S70 08:31 Broxbourne Dn Tamp Sdg Gbf to Broxbourne Dn Tamp Sdg Gbf
3S81 07:40 Broxbourne Dn Tamp Sdg Gbf to Broxbourne Dn Tamp Sdg Gbf

Tonbridge Based RHTT (Class 73 / 66 & sometimes 20s)

Click here for live times for today’s FRGTs at TWY

3W90 03:39 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf
3W74 05:35 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf
3W75 15:08 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf

3W90 03:50 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf
3W74 06:05 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf
3W75 15:22 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf

3W74 06:10 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf
3W90 07:13 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf
3W75 14:45 Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf to Tonbridge West Yard Gbrf

Bescot Based RHTT (Class 66 GBRf)

3J01 10:50 Bescot T.M.D. to London Euston
3J02 00:59 London Euston to Bescot T.M.D.

3J01 10:50 Bescot T.M.D. to Bescot T.M.D.

3J01 10:46 Bescot T.M.D. to London Euston

Peterborough Based RHTT (Class 66)

3J31 01:06 Peterborough L.I.P. to Harringay Up Rev Sdgs
3J32 05:37 Harringay Up Rev Sdgs to Canonbury West Jn
3J33 09:05 Canonbury West Jn to Harringay Up Rev Sdgs
3J34 13:07 Harringay Up Rev Sdgs to Harringay Up Rev Sdgs
3J35 18:52 Harringay Up Rev Sdgs to Peterborough L.I.P.

3J41 06:10 Peterborough L.I.P. to Doncaster Up Decoy
3J42 09:54 Doncaster Up Decoy to Peterborough
3J43 16:04 Peterborough to Peterborough L.I.P.
3J44 19:06 Peterborough L.I.P. to Peterborough L.I.P.

3J41 08:03 Peterborough L.I.P. to Barnetby
3J42 10:50 Barnetby to Peterborough L.I.P.
3J43 16:00 Peterborough L.I.P. to Peterborough L.I.P.

3J31 01:48 Peterborough L.I.P. to Harringay Up Rev Sdgs
3J32 05:51 Harringay Up Rev Sdgs to Harringay Up Rev Sdgs
3J33 10:20 Harringay Up Rev Sdgs to Harringay Up Rev Sdgs
3J34 15:36 Harringay Up Rev Sdgs to Harringay Up Rev Sdgs
3J35 19:54 Harringay Up Rev Sdgs to Peterborough L.I.P.

3J41 08:08 Peterborough L.I.P. to Doncaster Up Decoy
3J42 11:40 Doncaster Up Decoy to Peterborough L.I.P.

3J31 10:48 Peterborough L.I.P. to Peterborough L.I.P.
3J41 13:58 Peterborough L.I.P. to Peterborough L.I.P.
3J42 17:22 Peterborough L.I.P. to Peterborough L.I.P.

Didcot Based RHTT (Class 66 / 67)

3J41 14:53 Didcot Fuelling Point to Didcot Fuelling Point
3J42 20:52 Didcot Fuelling Point to Didcot T.C.
3J43 02:53 Didcot T.C. to Didcot Fuelling Point
3J43 03:01 Didcot T.C. to Didcot Parkway
3J44 05:24 Didcot Parkway to Didcot Fuelling Point

3J41 18:32 Didcot Fuelling Point to Didcot Fuelling Point
3J42 22:59 Didcot Fuelling Point to Didcot T.C.
3J43 03:58 Didcot T.C. to Didcot Parkway
3J44 05:28 Didcot Parkway to Didcot Fuelling Point

Margam Based RHTT (Class 66 / 67)

3S61 18:57 Margam T.C. to Margam T.C.

St Blazey Based RHTT (Class 66)

3J11 20:32 St Blazey L I P to Par
3J11 21:40 St Blazey L I P to Par
3J12 01:21 Par to Westbury
3J13 08:50 Westbury to St Blazey L I P
3J13 09:09 Westbury to St Blazey L I P

3J15 08:05 St Blazey L I P to Par
3J14 10:04 Par to St Blazey L I P

Inverness Based RHTT (Class 66 / 37)

3S95?

Acton Based RHTT (Class 66) – Potentially FL Locos

3J04 09:47 Aylesbury (Sdgs 1-7) to Acton T.C.
3J04 20:44 Acton T.C. to Aylesbury (Sdgs 1-7)

3J04 00:55 Acton T.C. to Amersham
3J05 04:10 Amersham to London Marylebone
3J04 09:32 London Marylebone to Aylesbury (Sdgs 1-7)
3J04 09:50 London Marylebone to Acton T.C.
3J04 11:42 Aylesbury (Sdgs 1-7) to Acton T.C.

3J04 07:35 Acton T.C. to Acton T.C.
3J04 20:23 Acton T.C. to Aylesbury (Sdgs 1-7)

Bristol Barton Hill Based RHTT (Class 66)

3S59 19:42 Bristol Barton Hill W.R.D. to Bristol Barton Hill W.R.D.

3S59 14:44 Bristol Barton Hill W.R.D. to Bristol Barton Hill W.R.D.

Toton Based RHTT (Class 66 / 67)

3J92 23:42 Toton T.M.D. to West Hampstead North Jn.
3J93 12:01 West Hampstead North Jn. to Toton T.M.D.
3J93 11:53 West Hampstead North Jn. to Toton T.M.D.

3J87 02:45 Toton T.M.D. to Toton T.M.D.
3J88 21:25 Toton T.M.D. to Stapleford & Sandiacre
3J88 23:07 Toton T.M.D. to Stapleford & Sandiacre
3J89 05:00 Stapleford & Sandiacre to Toton T.M.D.