DRS to retain 13 Class 37s for up to five years

DIRECT RAIL Services has confirmed it is to retain a small fleet of 13 Class 37s for as many as five more years to meet its traction requirements. The other ten in its fleet are to be sold off by competitive tender. The rationale is that at present no other locos can perform some of the duties that the Type 3s are used for, such as the autumn Rail Head Treatment Trains in Yorkshire and East Anglia; their RA 5 route availability is a significant part of the decision. However, this has to be gauged against the increasing maintenance costs and ongoing availability of spare parts.

Some of the fleet, notably some of the Class 37/4s, have undergone significant lifeextension work in the past few years and these are among those being retained, 12 of which are 37038/059/069, 37402/407/409/419/422-425 and heavyweight 37716. The thirteenth example will be one of either 37128/259 or 37401 Mary Queen of Scots, depending on condition. Another example, 37405, is currently in strategic reserve but has been used as a parts donor.