Freightliner goes diesel as electricity prices double
Electric locos are seeing reduced usage rather than total removal from operation.
FREIGHTLINER has taken the unprecedented step of cutting back its use of Class 90 locomotives in the face of steeply rising energy costs over the last couple of months.
There were 23 active members in the fleet before the latest crisis, Nos. 90003-90016 and 90041-90050, with all but No. 90003 being recorded in service in the first half of October. The controversial move came just days ahead of the COP26 UN climate change conference in Glasgow.
By the end of the month only eight Class 90s were actually out of use, although none were technically stored, with Freightliner choosing to reduce the use of electric traction on certain diagrams, rather than officially remove locomotives from traffic.
This includes Nos. 90004 and 90007 that were at Wolverton at the time of the announcement, undergoing repaints into the house G&W colours. The redeployment has meant that the five Beacon Rail Class 66s that were stopped earlier in the year and allocated DHLT, Nos. 66599, 66953, 66955, 66956 and 66957, have all now been officially reactivated to the DFIN pool. Previously, Nos. 66599, 66953 and 66956, which were all actually returned to service in August (see November issue), were working while still designated DHLT.
While DB Cargo has commented that it currently has no plans to cut its use of electric locomotives, DRS has also reduced the number of diagrams for its Class 88s, although high profile services such as the Tesco intermodals will remain electric hauled.
On a positive note, Freightliner has taken the opportunity to accelerate its fleet rebranding, with three recently released in the Genesee & Wyominginspired scheme, bringing the total of Class 90 repaints to 10.
No. 90009 returned from Wolverton on September 13, No. 90006 on October 1 and No. 90008 on the 19th.
Separately, pink ‘As One we can’ liveried No. 66587 was briefly taken out of traffic on October 18, to form the centrepiece of the ONE stand at the Multimodal 2021 event at the NEC Birmingham from October 19-21.
Allelys’ Heavy Haulage did the honours for the road journey from Tyseley to Hall 2 at the NEC.
Conversely, a longer term display is planned for No. 86622, which has been moved to Crewe Heritage Centre as part of a storage agreement with Freightliner. The Powerhaulpainted Class 86/6, which was stored almost exactly one year ago (see January issue), was transferred from Basford Hall by No. 47830 on October 21.