UK: As part of its exploration of future options for its locomotive fleet, DB Cargo UK has trialled the use of a Stadler Class 93 locomotive to haul an intermodal service from Seaforth in Merseyside to Mossend in Glasgow and back for Peel Ports.
DB Cargo UK worked with loco owner Rail Operations Group and Network Rail for the trial on February 10.
‘The trial of the Class 93 was conducted as part of an ongoing review of our future fleet investment strategy, and we were impressed with its performance’, said Mark Sargant, DB Cargo UK’s Head of Operations. ‘We also took the opportunity to take along representatives from the train driver union ASLEF, to ascertain their views on its performance out on the network.’
Brian Ferguson, General Manager at Rail Operations Group, said ‘handling loads of up to 1 500 tonnes, the locomotive delivered a strong performance throughout, including successful standing starts on challenging gradients. Each successful run builds further confidence in what is a truly versatile and capable locomotive for the modern railway.’
Class 93
Rail Operations UK and Stadler signed a framework agreement for 30 Class 93 locomotives in January 2021, with a firm order for an initial 10.
The mixed-traffic Bo-Bo design is based on the Class 68 UKLight diesel and Class 88 UKDual electro-diesel locos supplied to Direct Rail Services, but with a higher maximum speed of 175 km/h rather than 160 km/h.
The electric-diesel-battery tri-mode loco has a rating of 4 000 kW using 25 kV 50 Hz electrification, or 4 600 kW in battery boost mode, with a 900 kW Caterpillar C32 diesel engine meeting EU 97/68 Stage V emission regulations for use on non-electrified lines. The two lithium titanate oxide battery packs provide an extra 400 kW boost to supplement the diesel engine or for zero-emission shunting.
