GBRf targets new vehicles for HS2 construction work
GB Railfreight is on the lookout for new locomotives and wagons, as it prepares to bid for HS2 haulage contracts.
Speaking at a media briefing on August 3, GBRf Managing Director John Smith explained that the freight operator’s owner EQT was open to buying new assets for the company. Smith said it made sense that the operator owns its assets outright where possible, rather than leasing them.
Should GB Railfreight win deals to support HS2 contracts, there is the prospect of using up to 16 trains per day just to move products and materials away from construction sites. These are likely to start in 2019 60s that have been made available for sale by DB Cargo. He has also spoken with Stadler regarding dualmode Class 88s, although these would adhere to a Co-Co design rather than the current Bo-Bo design.
Smith also confirmed that ideally he would like more Class 66s, and said that there is a secondary leasing market for the class. European Union regulations regarding emissions means that no more brand new ‘66s’ could be built to meet GBRf’s requirements Romania from next month. These will support biomass operations from a new plant at Lynemouth.
GBRf is also modifying more coal wagons, at a cost of around £18,000 per vehicle, for use in the aggregates markets.
Rakes of these wagons are already in use on trains in the North, as part of a contract with Tarmac. Smith explained that the company has also speculatively ordered box wagons which could ultimately be used on contracts with HS2.
Elsewhere within GBRf’s current fleet, Smith confirmed that two of six stored Class 92s (920006/020) are to be overhauled and returned to main line use, with a further two likely to follow.
These will be used to support various contracts, including the Caledonian Sleeper.
This will spell the end of the use of 86101 Sir William Stanier FRS, 86401 Mons Meg and 87002 Royal Sovereign that are hired from the AC Locomotive Group.