GBRf hires ‘70’ for Liverpool trials

GB Railfreight is to hire a Class 70 from Colas for haulage tests.

The locomotive will be used initially on trains from Liverpool Docks. Previously GBRf has also tested 59003 Yeoman Endeavour from here, using the superior haulage capabilities of a ‘59’ against a ‘66’ to haul heavy freights from the Docks via a steep gradient.

Once the Merseyside test is complete, the ‘70’ will move to Tyne Docks, where GBRf’s coal and biomass trains must also climb a steep gradient to access the national network.

GBRf will loan Colas a Class 66 while the trials are carried out.