Builder Vossloh España Build date 2015-2016 UIC class Bo'Bo' | Model Vossloh Euro Dual Total produced 10 on order | |
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Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
The Class 88 is a type of mixed traffic electro-diesel locomotive manufactured by Vossloh for Direct Rail Services in the United Kingdom. The design is part of the Vossloh Euro Dual family.
Contents
Background
In January 2012, Direct Rail Services announced that it had ordered a total of 15 new diesel locomotives from Vossloh. These locomotives, which entered service in the UK as Class 68, were part of Vossloh's Eurolight family, redesigned to fit the smaller UK loading gauge.
In September 2013, DRS announced that it was procuring a further ten locomotives. Unlike the Class 68s, these new units would be electro-diesel locomotives, capable of operating either via OHLE, or by using an onboard diesel engine. However, the new locomotives would feature the same bodyshell, cab, brakes, bogies, traction equipment and control software as the Class 68. The new locomotives were announced as being Class 88.
The first locomotive, no. 88 002, was delivered to the UK via the Port of Southampton and was transferred by road to Carlisle in January 2017.
Specification
The Class 88 is part of Vossloh's Euro Dual family. This is a range of dual mode locomotives that are fitted both with a pantograph, to collect electricity from overhead wires, and a Caterpillar diesel engine. The UK version will be able to run either on electrified lines using the pantograph, which will be the UK's standard OHLE current at 25kV AC, or away from electrified lines with the Caterpillar C27 950 hp (710 kW) engine. Dual mode locomotives have been mooted for freight use in the UK, using the "Last Mile" principle, where a primarily electric locomotive is fitted with a small diesel engine to allow trains to be delivered to unelectrified freight sidings. However, the Class 88 is intended as a fully dual mode locomotive, with the diesel engine powerful enough to haul a train on its own, although with only 20% of the power in electric mode. The Class 88s will be the first dual mode locomotives in the UK to use the 25kV AC electrification, as the only other electro-diesel locomotives to have entered service on the British network were the Class 73 and Class 74, which operated in the Southern Region using third rail electrification.
Operation
Direct Rail Services has procured the Class 88 to serve as a mixed-traffic locomotive, capable of operating both passenger and freight services. Primarily they will be used to enable DRS to haul freight using electric locomotives without the need to hire in electric traction from other operators. However, as with the Class 68, they will also be capable of operating passenger trains.
Named locomotives
A number of Class 88 locomotives have been named.