TPE livery applied to ‘68’ sub-leased from Direct Rail Services
Seven Class 68s are now allocated to the TransPennine Express pool, with TPE colours applied to the first locomotive.
Joining 68019-68022 in the XHTP pool are 68023 Achilles, 68024 Centaur and 68025 Superb. Meanwhile 68021 Tireless is the first in TPE livery, and the first UK main line locomotive not to carry a yellow front. The ‘68s’ are sub-leased from Direct Rail Services.
A TPE source told RAIL that up to three of the locomotives are set to transfer to the Czech Republic for testing with the new CAF-built Mk 5s, with the others to move to Barrow Hill ahead of their introduction by TPE.
Those going to the Derbyshire roundhouse will undergo modifications including the fitting of controls for the Mk 5 coach doors and push-pull equipment. The work will be carried out at Barrow Hill due to space constraints at Crewe Gresty Bridge. On September 8, DRS 68023-025 ran to Barrow Hill.
TPE will eventually use 6801968032, with 68033/034 also to be modified but used by the operator only if there is a catastrophic failure suffered by any of the core fleet.
The Class 68s will operate with rakes of Mk 5s in push-pull formation from Liverpool Lime Street/Manchester Airport to Scarborough/Middlesbrough from next summer. They will replace Class 185 diesel multiple units that will be used to boost three-car formations to six-car, although 22 of the 51 DMUs are scheduled to be sent off-lease.
There are 34 Class 68s in the
DRS fleet, although the operator does not use them all. Chiltern Railways leases 68010-68015 (with 68008/009 part of the main DRS fleet, but ‘spare’ for CR), while two are used by ScotRail (68006/007 are the booked pair and carry Scotland’s Railways branding, although 68030/032 were being used in early September).
Until September 8, a further two were hired by Greater Anglia. That deal has ended (see separate story), meaning that with the transfer of 68023-68025 to TPE, the DRS’ ‘68’ fleet has been reduced by one example.
Eventually, DRS will have 68001005/016-018 in its own fleet, with 68008/009 and 68033/034 also part of that fleet but able to be used by CR or TPE respectively if needed. The ScotRail deal is booked to end in 2019.