Class 93 tri-mode
Rail Operations UK Limited’s first Class 93 tri-mode is taking shape, with the first locomotives planned to be in the UK in 2023.
THE first underframe for a Rail Operations UK Limited (ROUK) Class 93 tri-mode will be ready this August in Stadler’s Valencia factory, with the first locomotives in the UK in 2023.
Thirty have been ordered, with an initial batch of ten to be delivered ( RAIL 923). The company hopes that little testing will be required, as they are similar to bi-mode Class 88s used by Direct Rail Services.
The ‘93s’ will be an electric locomotive, but also fitted with a small diesel engine and lithium batteries. Longer-term, it’s hoped to remove the diesel engine as well as the fuel tank and cooler group, which will make them lighter or create more space for more batteries.
ROUK Chief Executive Karl Watts (pictured) told RAIL that the company intends to revolutionise intermodal traffic with the ‘93s’. He explained: “Intermodal started in 1965 and ran at 75mph with no stops. Fifty-five years later it runs at 75mph but stops everywhere and has an average speed of 24mph.
“Look at any country - all intermodals are electric Bo-Bo locomotives. In this country about 96% is diesel using Class 66s. They are old in design and technology and not that strong - you get 3,000hp if lucky. The top speed is 75mph and they use a lot of fuel while emitting masses of carbon. That cannot go on.
“The ‘93s’ are the perfect intermodal locomotive. We’ve not sat around waiting to do anything since we launched the project in 2018, we’ve done modelling and a lot of pathing.
“A Class 93 can do IpswichStratford in 65 minutes - this means it can keep pace with an express passenger service. That makes a difference if there are no paths. But Network Rail says there are, it’s just that nobody has a train fast enough.
“These have 5,500hp and double the tractive effort of a ‘66’. Whereas a ‘66’ begins to lose
power at 5mph when accelerating, a ‘93’ begins to subside at 30mph. They will run uphill from Ipswich at line speed with a 1,500-tonne intermodal.”
The tri-modes will have a 100mph maximum speed, which means to use that capability they would need to operate with wagons capable of the same speed. Currently, other than converting redundant coaching stock, this is not available. “We would be foolish not to look at wagons,” said Watts, suggesting that development work is ongoing within the UK.