GBRf is proud of its new baby. So much so that the rail freight operator has shared pictures of the locomotive leaving the Stadler works in Valencia, Spain. The unit, based on Stadler’s Eurodual design and customised for the UK, is the first of a fleet of thirty locomotives on order.

Alternative traction capability

The remarkably powerful units, delivering 8000bhp (6000kw) under electric traction, also have a secondary diesel engine on board. That alternative traction capability will allow the units to deliver bulk loads almost anywhere on the UK network. Class 99 locomotives are expected to reduce emissions by up to 58 per cent in service when compared to the industry’s most popular diesel workhorse.

“The Class 99s are a game-changing moment for the UK rail freight industry,” said the ever-enthusiastic John Smith, GBRf chief executive. “Rail freight has long been the cleanest, safest and most efficient way of transporting goods. These locomotives offer our customers the chance to run faster, wholly sustainable, heavy-haul services across the length and breadth of the country.”

Significant payload volume at mainline speeds

GB Railfreight, which celebrated its 25th-anniversary last year, expects to start introducing the class 99 into revenue-earning service later this year. “99001 left Stadler’s factory in Valencia this week and is making its way to Velim in the Czech Republic,” said a company statement. “[At Velim] ,it will undergo a rigorous programme of testing and commissioning. We expect 99001 will be in the UK in the early summer of this year.”

GBRf says the Class 99 units are the first heavy-haul freight locomotives capable of moving significant volume at mainline speeds on electrified and non-electrified sections of the UK rail network. In this case, that’s 75mph or 120kph. “The Class 99s aligns with the [UK] government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower and will empower businesses and consumers to make greener purchasing decisions,” said the company.

The operator has already committed to running the hybrid locomotives on renewable energy sources. Unit number 99001 has a few months ahead of it in the Czech Republic. The Velim test track is an independent facility located to the east of Prague. It is most famous for its large oval track layout with full overhead electrification. The formation is over thirteen kilometres long. It allows for extended non-stop testing under load and at high speed. The scenery is a bit repetitive. GBRf is not complaining about that, though.

New locomotives to cross the Pajares Base Tunnel

The locomotives were manufactured by Swiss company Stadler Rail in Albuixech, north of Valencia. This initiative was announced in February 2022 and, according to Renfe, the investment revolves around 64,7 million euros. As, Renfe highlighted, the full deal includes “12 new high-power locomotives with greater traction and load capacity”. All these locomotives will be running services specifically for ArcelorMittal.

The locomotives were developed to be able to circulate the Pajares Base Tunnel. This 24-kiloemtre-long tunnel, located between Leon and Gijon, is expected to open this year and boost rail freight due to the fact that will be equipped with a dual gauge. It was in fact decided that this tunnel could have trains running on both the European standard gauge as well as the Iberian one. These locomotives will also decrease noise pollution.

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Tailored to the UK network

With the UK network unlikely to be fully electrified anytime soon, specialist services provider Rail Operations Group have been pragmatic about their fleet development requirements. When RailFreight broke the news just over a year ago, ROG had just put pen to paper with manufacturers Stadler for a unique version of their popular Bo-Bo platform.

Stadler is now fully producing the Class 93 locomotive fleet and has finished the first body shell, tailored for the UK network. Assembly of all the components and sub-systems will soon begin. After testing and approvals, the first locomotive is scheduled to be transferred to the UK in March 2023. Entry into service is set to take place a few months later.

A project of firsts

“We’ve been working with Stadler for four years now to specify and design a locomotive for the future”, said Karl Watts from Rail Operations Group. “The end product, the Class 93 tri-mode, is a locomotive with great operating versatility, incredible energy efficiency and technology. The locomotive also enables Rail Operations to penetrate new operating markets, in particular express freight, previously unavailable using its existing locomotive fleet.”

“This is a project of firsts”, said Iñigo Parra, CEO of Stadler Valencia. “The Class 93 is not only the first tri-mode locomotive to run in the UK, but it’s Stadler’s first tri-mode locomotive, illustrating our commitment to green technology and genuine desire to help governments and businesses around the world de-carbonise their cities, towns and villages.”

High power, high speed, high hopes

Variations on the theme of tri-mode have already been seen operating in the UK. For over a year, passenger operators in England and Wales have been using multiple units converted from a venerable British Railways design. ROG also has their sights set on tri-mode conversions – although their conversions are destined to go further, and provide the effort behind planned express logistics traffic, a modern take on the parcels traffic of years gone by.

The new locomotives under construction for ROG are destined for the sort of heavy work and recovery duties in which the company seeks to specialise. The design borrows heavily from Stadler’s Class 68 and Class 88 locomotives, which have been operating successfully in the UK for several years. Most importantly, the 4,600 kW units will be capable of a flat-out 110mph (192kph). It doesn’t get much more express logistics than that.

Stadler recently signed another deal with a UK rail freight company, with an order for GB Railfreight to build bi-mode locomotives for their fleet.

Supporting specialist rail operations

STAR Is not a newcomer to the railway industry. The investment house has previous investment experience in rail-transport, notably for stakes in Eversholt Rail Group in the UK and Abellio GmbH in Germany. They say their involvement with Rail Operation (UK) will not only expand their own experience, but help with accelerating the modal shift from air and road to rail by offering fast, cost effective and environmentally-friendly solutions.

The investment house is planning to work closely with the operator. Paul Gough, a managing partner with STAR, said the firm matched all their expectations and aspirations. “We believe it exhibits several characteristics that STAR looks for in a platform investment, including a strong reputation as a high-quality, safety-conscious service provider, supporting critical rail operations across the UK. We are excited to partner with management to help the company continue to grow by providing innovative, cost-effective and increasingly environmentally-friendly solutions for its customers.”

Net-zero carbon targets

Commenting on the deal, Karl Watts, chief executive officer of Rail Operations (UK), said the company would throttle ahead. “The growth capital from STAR will enable the Group to widen its service offering and cement further its reputation as a high-quality, safety-focused solutions provider to our customers. We look forward to playing a significant part in assisting the UK to meeting its net-zero carbon targets.”

Part of that decarbonisation agenda will be answered by a deal concluded at the same time as the financial arrangements. The group have signed a framework agreement with manufacturer Stadler for the supply of thirty class 93 designated tri-mode locomotives. Delivery of the fleet begins with the first ten due in early 2023.

Class 93 tri-mode green credentials

The Class 93 tri-mode locomotives primarily move on overhead electric supply, but are also equipped with battery and an on-board diesel engine. The advanced locomotives will significantly reduce CO2 emissions for both rail freight and potentially passenger transport services.

Watts says the motive power deal is a clear example of how the rail industry has acted very positively in understanding its role in reducing carbon emissions. “The class 93 fleet, with its array of green credentials, will allow us to lead the way in supporting the rail industry deliver its decarbonisation targets”, he says. “With its impressive state-of-the-art specification, the class 93s also allow us to develop new markets and modernise many aspects of UK train operations.”

Stadler, which will build the locomotives in Spain, has an eye on further commissions. Iñigo Parra, the CEO of Stadler Valencia, did a quick sales pitch.“The innovative and cost-effective solution will provide environmentally-friendly rail transport services, supporting national decarbonisation strategies and promoting modal shift to rail”. Stadler has been building up its manufacturing capacity in the past year, such as with further development at its site in Switzerland.

The deal, which has been faciliated through leasing specialists DAL Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing, sees HVLE become the launch customer of the new-generation six-axle bi-mode locomotives, developed by Stadler specifically for the European market.

Milestone

Iñigo Parra, CEO of Stadler Rail Valencia, said: “This contract is an important milestone for Stadler as the first order of the new locomotive family. With its avant-garde technology, the Eurodual locomotive covers every need in an efficient and reliable way offering rail operators numerous economic and ecological benefits.”

Martin Wischner of HVLE added: “We need diesel power for the first/last mile but the environmental and economic advantages of electric power are very important for us. Stadler’s Eurodual is a bi-mode locomotive with impressive performance, both in diesel and in electrical mode, available in different configurations, gauges and overhead voltages. The modular platform also offers a wide range of different power in diesel mode to adequately meet individual customers’ needs.”

Versatile

The versatile locomotive platform is designed for mainly freight use at speeds of up to 160 km/h, on electrified and non-electrified lines. Stadler, well-known rolling stock manufacturer including freight locomotives for the European market, is currently supplying four-axle bi-mode locomotives Class 88 to British operator Direct Rail Services and performing first tests of the six-axle Eurodual prototype in its Spanish plant.

Founded in 1892, HVLE remains one of the ten biggest rail freight companies operating in Germany. Though covering all areas of freight, it has special expertise in heavy duty, or bulk freight, as well as the transportation of dangerous goods and specialised types of transport. It operates a fleet of 35 locomotives.