A framework agreement has been signed between Rail Operations UK Ltd and train manufacturer Stadler to bring tri-mode Class 93 locomotives to the UK.
Supporting the rail decarbonisation project in the UK, thirty Bo-Bo locomotives will be built by Stadler.
We spoke to Camilla Mirza, from Rail Operations UK Ltd, who said that the new Class 93s are “capable of being used on the entire UK rail network” so they will be seen operating up and down England, Wales and Scotland.
RailAdvent has also spoken to Andreas Petrosino, from Stadler, who said that they will be building the new Class 93s at their manufacturing plant in Valencia, Spain.
Do the 93s look familiar? They are based on the same platform that the Class 68s and 88s are based on, which Stadler built for Beacon Rail and Direct Rail Services between 2013-2017 and 2015-2016 respectively, and these are in operation on freight services for DRS as well as passenger services with Chiltern Railways and TransPennine Express.
The first Class 93s are due to be delivered to Rail Operations UK Ltd during 2023, and Camilla Mirza told us they should enter service “immediately following testing and approval”
A “significant” reduction in CO2 emissions is to be expected by the new tri-mode locomotives. Camilla Mirza also told us that the locomotives will be classed as a mixed-traffic locomotive so could be seen operating any type of train that is needed, be it freight trains, rolling stock movements, or passenger trains.
Iñigo Parra, CEO Stadler Valencia said in the press release that “The innovative and cost-effective solution will provide environmentally-friendly rail transport services, supporting national decarbonisation strategies and promoting modal shift to rail”.
Stadler’s new tri-mode, the first kind that they have built, will be rated up to 110mph, rather than the 100mph max speed that the Class 68s and 88s have.
Chief Executive Officer at Rail Operations (UK) Ltd, Karl Watts, says that the Class 93s will allow ROUK Ltd to ‘lead the way’ in meeting the UK’s decarbonisation targets.
Karl also said that the new locomotives allowed the ROUK, which has just been taken over by STAR Capital Partnership, to ‘modernise many aspects’ of UK operations and also helps Rail Operations UK Ltd to ‘develop’ new markets.
While the 68s and 88s have Caterpillar C175-6 and Caterpillar C27 engines respectively, the Class 93s will be built with Caterpillar C32 engines along with traction battery packs made of Lithium Titanate Oxide, which will allow the locomotives to run on non-electrified lines. If operating on electrified lines, the locomotive will be able to take advantage of overhead lines, just like the Class 88s.
The 1,200hp diesel engines will be boosted by the 536hp battery packs when running in hybrid mode and this additionally allows for carbon-free shunting.
Rail Operations Group currently have a fleet of Class 37s (37510, 37601, 37608, 37611, 37800, 37884 and 37901 – the latter hasn’t worked for Rail Operations Group yet) and Class 47s (47812 – 813, 47815, 47843, 47847 – 848) which currently operate alongside a fleet of Class 57 locomotives (57301, 57305, 57310, 57312) which are currently on long term loan from Direct Rail Services.
Camilla Mirza told RailAdvent that “No decision has been made on the continued operation of the classic locomotive fleet” once the Class 93s (93001 – 93030) enter service.
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Responses
I do like the dark green livery on the Class 93 locomotive that is to be manufactured. Maybe Stadler could continue on manufacturing the Tri-mode and Bi-mode Class xx locomotives which other train operators might be able to introduce new direct services with the new locomotives. Including Grand Central to reintroduce the London Euston-Blackpool North open access service and to order new locomotives.
And ScotRail to order few Class xx locomotives to be used in the North of Scotland, the Fife Circle Lines and on the Glasgow South Western Line. And Transport for Wales to introduce new trains for the North Wales Line and other lines in Wales.
Also maybe bring back the Norwich-Basingstoke open access service with new Tri-mode “Hybrid” trains that there once used to be a “London Crosslink” open access that went from Norwich to Basingstoke using the Class 170 Turbostar DMUs and went via the North London Line and West London Line.
THE 71.73 AND 74S WERE THE FIRST HYBRID BIMODES…AND SOME 71/74 HAD A PANTOGRAPH SO THEY WERR TRIMODES TOO PERHAPS OR WERE THEY
74’s were 650hp Diesel or 750v DC 3rd rail, 71’s were 750v DC 3rd Rail, or 650v DC overhead, there were a few sidings that didn’t have space for 3rd rail so overhead was used. No Tri mode locos.