Class 68 makes Cornwall debut on crew training

Direct Rail Services 68017 accelerates through Saltash on May 27, becoming the first Class 68 to visit Cornwall. The ‘68’ was working the 1022 Exeter St Davids-Penzance and 1427 return. This was a crew training trip ahead of the class hauling charter trains. 110 99 137 128 192 330 themselves, taking their own riskbased decisions on procuring the train capacity we need now and in the future”.

DfT stated in its report: “We need trains that are well designed both visually and in engineering terms, use space as efficiently as possible, options such as doubledeck trains should be considered, and are explicitly designed to have a low environment impact through low energy consumption and reduced emissions.”

Where new trains are needed, DfT wants more emphasis to be given to ‘future proofing’ them if they are to be cascaded to a different TOC.

Total standardisation would “unnecessarily restrict the ability to innovate”, it states, but DfT wants to talk to TOCs, ROSCOs and Network Rail to establish the common elements needed in train design - including standard vehicle lengths and door positions, train height and width, energy efficiency and lighter trains.

HS2 is also viewed as an opportunity. The report states: “The process of procuring new trains for HS2 will begin next year. Decisions have yet to be taken on how the line will be operated, but HS2 Ltd will procure the new trains, as there is no private sector operator in place to do this.

“It is important that services are integrated closely with those on the existing network, as many HS2 trains will operate on the existing main lines as well as on the highspeed network.” @Clinnick1 For analysis of the rolling stock cascade plan, read Q1-2015. RailReview