On Wednesday, 25 September, GB Railfreight (GBRf) will unveil its new hybrid Class 99 locomotive at the international transport exhibition InnoTrans in Berlin, Germany.
GB Railfreight’s introduction of the Class 99 represents a significant leap forward in its contribution to decarbonising the UK’s rail freight industry, with a forecast reduction in emissions of up to 58% per journey compared to the Class 66s which are the industry norm.
The new Class 99s are being built by Stadler at its factory in Valencia, Spain, and were designed in collaboration with Beacon Rail.
The first Class 99 is expected to arrive in the UK next Spring 2025 with deliveries continuing throughout the 2025 and 2026, and it is hoped that the full fleet will be operational by the end of 2026.
Class 99s are hybrid locomotives capable of operating at mainline speeds on electrified and non-electrified trains.
The new trains will shorten journey times and drive efficiencies for customers across the UK’s transport infrastructure.
The new locomotives are exclusive to GB Railfreight, and by providing shorter and more efficient journey times they will provide customers with a new solution for the sustainable movement of goods across the UK.
With around £30bn worth of goods being transported by rail each year, GB Railfreight’s investment in the Class 99s is in line with the UK Government‘s mission to become a clean energy superpower.
They will also help reduce the environmental impact of transporting goods, and empower businesses and consumers to make greener purchasing decisions.
Once the Class 99s are in service with GB Railfreight in the UK, they will be serviced and maintained by their manufacturer, Stadler.
Last April, Network Rail extended its haulage contract with GB Railfreight for another two years.
“Rail freight has long been the cleanest, safest and most efficient way of transporting goods and the Class 99s are a game-changing moment for the UK rail freight industry. These locomotives offer our customers the chance to run faster, wholly sustainable, heavy-haul services across the length and breadth of the country.”
John Smith, Chief Executive Officer of GB Railfreight
“Along with our clients, GB Railfreight and Beacon Rail, we are delighted to be presenting this fantastic locomotive, which is testament to Stadler’s commitment to green technology. Set to be a game changer in UK rail freight, this environmentally friendly, efficient, and powerful vehicle will encourage modal shift from road to rail, helping the UK decarbonise the railway and supporting net zero targets.”
Iñigo Parra, CEO of Stadler Valencia
“Beacon is proud to introduce the Class 99 to the market; this is the result of a collaborative approach with our long-standing customer GB Railfreight and manufacturer Stadler. The Class 99 order underlines Beacon’s drive to support the UK’s journey towards a greener and more efficient rail network.”
Adam Cunliffe, Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Rail
Responses
And yet again British jobs, expertise and ability is shoved out of the window. I wonder if the CEO who thought buying Spanish will think about the extra unemployment in the UK that results or the fact we have no manufacturers to produce exports, pay our way in the world or defend ourselves when Russia invades