TransPennine Express takes delivery of first leased Class 68s

The first Class 68s have gone on lease to TransPennine Express, with Direct Rail Services 68019 Brutus leased to the operator on May 23.

It is at Crewe Gresty Bridge for modifications to enable it to work with TPE’s Mk 5 coaches that are currently being built by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) in Spain. This work includes door controls that mean the train cannot depart if a door on the stock is unlocked, and push-pull modifications.

The ‘68’ is to be used for testing with the first rake of Mk 5s at Velim in the Czech Republic, and will move to mainland Europe later this year.

Two more locomotives (68020 Reliance and 68021 Tireless) were leased to TPE from June 5, with the former receiving the same modifications as 68019.

The latter will be used for driver training - this will include operating with the rake of Mk 3s hired from Porterbrook that is being overhauled at Laira depot.

TPE will hire 68019-68032 from DRS to haul 13 rakes of Mk 5s, while 68033/034 will also be available to TPE, but only as spares (in the way 68008/009 are for a similar deal for Chiltern Railway).

Recently delivered 68026-68031 will also need the modifications. The operator wants to use its rake of Mk 3s in passenger duty ahead of the introduction of the Mk 5s, but there is no planned date for this.

By mid-August 2018, the ‘68s’ will enter traffic with the Mk 5s.