Almost a year after arriving in the UK, Rail Operations Group’s new Stadler tri-mode locomotive 93001 finally undertook its first main line solo run on May 28, from Worksop to Sheffield and back.
It undertook two runs, and repeated them the following day. Then on May 30/31 it did the same trips, but this time with a load of a seven-coach rake of Eastern Rail Services Mk 2/3 vehicles. The last run had the extra weight of 37601 Perseus on the back.
Three driver trainers are carrying out the tests. Stadler will analyse the information received from these trial trips and make any necessary software tweaks before the locomotive moves onto the next stage of testing.
That will be on the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Carlisle, at 100mph with seven or eight Mk 3s. These tests are expected to start from July 15 and should last up to two weeks, after which the locomotive is due to move to Old Dalby for 110mph testing. The locomotive’s coupling is also expected to be changed.
The ‘93s’ are capable of running off the 25kV AC overhead system, and are rated at 5,360hp from this power source. They also have 12-cylinder Caterpillar C32 diesel engines, rated at 1,205hp, and two LTO (lithium titanium- oxide) batteries.
The Bo-Bo locomotives are a development of the Class 88s also built by Stadler, which have been in use with Direct Rail Services since 2016.
The Sheffield runs were done on a mix of diesel power, battery power, and the two modes combined. The battery was used for setting off, station arrivals and shunting, and the diesel power on the main line, with some sections completed in hybrid mode with both powering. The batteries recharge when the locomotive brakes.
The ride is understood to be very good, and superior to a Class 88. Testers described the locomotive as very surefooted and said it did not lose traction.
It is the first of a fleet of ten Class 93 tri-mode locomotives built by Stadler at its Valencia factory.
93002-010 are all constructed and remain in Spain, but they are expected to ship to the UK in September once all the data and software updates from the main line testing programme has been implemented. Their arrival will allow full ROG driver training on the type. ROG has an option for two more batches of ten ‘93s’ each should they be required.
The ERS coaches (9525, 10229/413, 11078/098, 12021/064/091/ 098) were collected on May 28 by 37608 Andromeda and 37800 Cassiopeia from Great Yarmouth, and moved to Chaddesden. The following day, 37407 Blackpool Tower and 37608 moved them to Worksop.
With a design speed of 110mph, ROG’s plan is that they will work high-speed logistics services under the wires, with the diesel or batteries for ‘last mile’ operations on freight branch lines or unwired yards and railheads.
This will enable them to exploit the overhead wires for the majority of their journey without needing to change to a diesel locomotive at any point.
Later this year, GB Railfreight should take delivery of the first of its 30 Class 99 Eurodual Co-Co locomotives from Stadler. The Class 99 is due to be unveiled at InnoTrans in September.
This will be an electro-diesel but with an 8,200hp rating on electric and a Cummins QSK50 V16 diesel engine rated at 2,415hp. GBRf has an option for 20 more Class 99s.
■ The first public showing of a Class 93 will be at Rail Live on June 19/20, when 93001 will be on display at RAIL’s event at Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre.
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