British Rail Class 99
| British Rail Class 99 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 A GB Railfreight Class 99 at The Greatest Gathering | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The British Rail Class 99 is a class of dual-mode electro-diesel Co-Co locomotives capable of hauling freight trains on both electrified and non-electrified lines. It is based on the Stadler Euro Dual platform.
As of May 2026[update], seven locomotives had been delivered. Following testing and training, the first commercial train movement with a class 99 locomotive took place on 28 July 2026.
History
In April 2022, Beacon Rail and GB Railfreight signed an agreement with Stadler Rail Valencia for the supply of 30 locomotives to replace their Class 66 locomotives. The locomotives represent a £150 million investment by GBRf. The locomotives are owned by Beacon Rail, which funded their acquisition, and are leased to GBRf.
In September 2024, locomotive 99002 was displayed by GBRf at Innotrans 2024 in Berlin. Locomotive 99001 underwent testing at the Velim test centre in the Czech Republic from January 2025. The first two units arrived in the UK on 10 June 2025 at the port of Bristol and underwent further testing in Leicester.
All 30 locomotives were initially expected to be in service by June 2026, however this was slightly delayed due to flooding in Valencia affecting Stadler's factory in October 2024.
The first two units were delivered to GB Railfreight in July 2025. The Class 99 was approved for service in the UK by the ORR in October 2025. As of May 2026[update], seven locomotives had been delivered and driver training was taking place.
The first commercial service took place on 28 July 2026 from London Gateway to Hams Hall Rail Freight Terminal.
Specification
The 75 mph (120 km/h) locomotive has a maximum tractive effort of 500 kN (110,000 lbf), and a power rating of 6,170 kW (8,270 hp) in electric mode. These figures exceed those of the diesel-powered British Rail Class 66.
It is fitted with the AWS and TPWS safety systems, and is planned to be fitted with ETCS. It has cameras providing views of the pantographs, shunting zones and the front of the locomotive.
Diesel performance
The Class 99 locomotive has a 16-cylinder 1,790 kW (2,400 hp) Cummins QSK50 engine installed, which meets Stage 5 emissions standards. The locomotives are expected to use HVO biofuels in service, and will be able to raise and lower their pantographs while moving.
Peter Dearman, an expert in traction electrification, reported in Rail Engineer in early 2023 that the Class 99 may only be able to deliver 1,600 kW (2,100 hp) at the rail in diesel mode. However, this was before the first production locomotive was exhibited at InnoTrans in September 2024.
The chief executive of GBRf, John Smith, reports that the Class 99 will outperform the Class 66 at low speeds, despite having a less powerful diesel engine. The greater tractive effort means that the Class 99 on diesel power can deliver more power at the rail than the 66. The less powerful diesel engine is also not expected to change its use cases, and will be deployed on heavy haul routes and intermodal trains.
Planned use
The locomotives, which entered revenue-generating service in the summer of 2026, are likely to be used primarily for intermodal work on the West Coast and the Great Eastern mainlines.
In July 2025, GBRf reached an agreement with Belmond to introduce Class 99 locomotives from 2027 to haul the luxury Royal Scotsman and Britannic Explorer trains, replacing the current Class 66 fleet to improve sustainability.
They are maintained by Stadler at a new facility in Leicester.
In October 2026, RAIL reported that a further 13 Class 99s are to be ordered for Caledonian Sleeper work, to replace Class 66, 73 and 92 locomotives currently used. They will be given a higher top speed of 100mph and Electric Train Supply (ETS) for providing power to the carriages.
See also
References
- ↑ "Specification datasheet from Beacon Rail".
- 1 2 3 "QSK50 for Locomotives and Railway Applications" (PDF). Cummins. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- 1 2 "GB Railfreight's Class 99 electro-diesel locos begin entering commercial service". Rail Business UK. 29 July 2026. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ "GBRf orders Stadler bi-mode Class 99 locomotives". Railnews. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ↑ GBRf orders 30 Stadler Class 99 bi-mode locos Modern Railways 29 April 2022
- 1 2 "Class 99 Locomotives Clear Key Regulatory Hurdle Ahead of 2026 Launch". Rail Technology Magazine. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ↑ Batey, Sam (14 April 2023). "GBRf agree contract for Stadler to provide service and maintenance for its new Class 99 locomotives". GBRf. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Keith Fender (26 September 2024). "Stadler presents class 99 locomotive". International Rail Journal. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ↑ Cech, Lubomir (17 January 2025). "Stadler tests Class99 locomotive at VUZ Velim". RAILMARKET.com. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- 1 2 "First GB Railfreight Class 99 locos arrive in the UK". Rail Business UK. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Class 99: the future of rail freight". Modern Railways. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ↑ Fender, Keith (25 July 2025). "British operator unveils Stadler locomotives". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ↑ "Stadler Rail Class 99 Locomotivies- ORR authorisation letter 21 October 2025" (PDF). Office of Rail and Road. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- 1 2 "GB Railfreight's Stadler locos move nearer to commercial service". Rail Business UK. 6 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Class 99 bi-mode locomotive" (PDF). Stadler Rail. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- 1 2 Clinnick, Richard (April 2025). "Class 99: the future of railfreight". Modern Railways. Vol. 82, no. 919. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 68. ISSN 0026-8356.
A Class 99 has six independently-controlled axles each with their own traction motor which works with a computerised traction system. "With that you are going to be able to put quite a lot of power and traction down at the starting point and get away quicker as both on diesel and electric the starting tractive effort is 500kN."
- ↑ "Our people: Leadership Teams: President". THE INSTITUTION FOR RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ↑ Peter Dearman (21 December 2022). "The Future role of rail: A strategic freight network". RailEngineer. Rail Engineer Magazine. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
Bi-mode locomotives have the flexibility to take power from the wires or diesel fuel. Yet they have limited spaced for an engine due to their electric traction equipment. It is understood that the recently ordered Class 99 bi-mode locomotives will only be able to deliver 1,600 kW (2,100 hp) at the rail.
- ↑ Sherratt, Philip, ed. (November 2024). "GBRf class 99 launched at InnoTrans". Modern Railways. Vol. 81, no. 914. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 10. ISSN 0026-8356.
Mr Smith (John Smith CEO of GBRf) told Modern Railways intermodal services from Felixstowe via the Great Eastern and West Coast main lines are obvious candidates....
- ↑ "Britannic Explorer to be hauled by GB Railfreight Class 99s". International Railway Gazette. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ↑ Clinnick, R. (June 2023). "Stadler to maintain Class 99s at Leicester". Headline News. Rail Express. No. 325. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 12. ISSN 1362-234X.
- ↑ Dunn, Pip. "More Class 99s expected to be ordered for Caledonian Sleeper work". www.railmagazine.com. Retrieved 19 October 2026.