Caledonian Sleeper readies Mk 5s for Scottish testing

THE first Mk 5s for Caledonian Sleeper are due at Polmadie by the end of this month.

Five have been undergoing testing at Velim in the Czech Republic, and these will be moved by rail. They were due to depart for Scotland as this issue of RAIL went to press.

CS Production and Safety Director David Simpson told RAIL that the operator was reviewing the output from the tests, and finalising the UK testing and commissioning programme.

The operator has 75 Mk 5s on order, and these will replace Mk 2s and Mk 3s. Like the current CS fleets, they will be formed into four rakes of 16 coaches, with 11 acting as spares. Maintenance will be carried out by Alstom at Polmadie, as well as at Inverness and Wembley. The stock enters traffic this year, and has been built by CAF in Beasain (Spain).

Meanwhile, Simpson said that the project to fit Dellner couplings to GB Railfreight Class 73/9s is nearing completion. This is needed in order for the ‘73/9s’ to haul the Mk 5s.

Simpson added that work on 73969, damaged in a shunting collision at Craigentinny in late 2016 and subsequently out of traffic for the whole of 2017, has been completed and it should be released soon from Wabtec Rail’s Brush Traction at Loughborough. The final locomotive to be modified will be 73971, which is currently in traffic and which will move to the Midlands shortly.

Wabtec is also fitting Dellner couplings to Class 92s. The first (92038) is been fitted and is undergoing testing prior to its release.

CS will also use 47727, which is one of three Class 47/7s bought by GBRf from Colas Railfreight ( RAIL 842). It will be used for stock moves between depots, and hauling stock in and out of Glasgow Central.