spudfan

Trans-Caspian rail and sea freight route to Europe launched | News | Railway Gazette International

UK: GB Railfreight, leasing company Beacon Rail and Stadler have signed an agreement for the supply of 30 Class 99 six-axle electro-diesel locomotives for entry into service from 2025. The operator said they would the first electro-diesel locomotives capable of hauling heavy freight at main line speeds on the UK network. Stadler said the Class 99s would be a ‘versatile’ design, building on the success of around 100 six-axle EuroDual locomotives sold in continental Europe. The Class 99 would be adapted to the British loading gauge and specifications, with a maximum speed of 120 km/h and power at wheel of 6 000 kW under 25 kV 50 Hz electrification. The ‘high-power low-emissions’ Stage V diesel engine will enable the locos to operate on non-electrified lines. The Class 99 will have an ‘outstanding’ tractive effort of up to 500 kN, high haulage capability and performance. Drivers will benefit from ‘optimal visibility’ and ergonomic desks. The Class 99s are intended to replace EMD Class 66 diesel locomotives on trains to logistics hubs from ports such as Felixstowe. This is expected to cut emissions by around 50% per journey, reducing the operator’s carbon footprint by 428 tonnes per working day across intermodal services operating along partially electrified lines. GB Railfreight CEO John Smith said the order announced on April 29 was ‘an important milestone for GB Railfreight and the UK’, and would ‘increase our industry’s levels of sustainability and propel us further towards meeting the government’s task to decarbonise the rail industry by 2040 in support of the UK’s net zero ambitions.’ Smith said ‘rail freight is not just the backbone of the UK’s economy; it is now leading the push to decarbonise supply chains. Our new and cutting-edge locomotives will immediately make a huge impact on reducing CO2 emissions, improve choice for businesses and consumers, and cut their carbon footprints when purchasing goods. ‘If scaled, with the help of the UK government to electrify more routes, the Class 99 locomotive can play an even greater role in helping supply chains and business operations become significantly more climate friendly.’ Iñigo Parra, CEO of Stadler Valencia, said the manufacturer has extensive experience in the UK locomotive market, having introduced the Class 68 diesel locomotives and Class 88 electro-diesels and won an order to supply tri-mode electric-diesel-battery Class 93 locos. ‘We are very proud to go one-step further with the development of the Class 99, a versatile, high-performance locomotive that will provide environmentally friendly and cost-effective rail transport services, supporting modal shift to rail.’ Beacon CEO Adam Cunliffe said the Class 99 was the result of a collaborative approach with its long-standing customer GB Railfreight and Stadler, and underlined the leasing company’s ‘drive to support the UK’s journey towards a greener and more efficient rail network’.

INDIA: Power generation company NTPC Ltd has ordered six electric locomotives from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd for materials handling operations at the Lara Super Thermal Power Station in the Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh. Opened in 2019-20, the 1·6 GW power plant uses coal delivered by rail from the Mand Raigarh coalfield which is served a dedicated railway built for the Chhattisgarh East Railway special purpose vehicle by Ircon International. Announcing the contract on April 25, BHEL said it was the first time that 6 000 hp electric locomotives had been ordered in India for an industrial user. ‘As the world continues to explore new ways of limiting carbon emissions in the transportation sector, BHEL’s efforts in offering eco-friendly electric locomotives for industry will provide a relatively cleaner and alternative option to diesel-electric locomotives’, it explained. The locos are to be assembled at BHEL’s Jhansi facility, with an IGBT-based traction package developed by the company’s Bengaluru facility and traction motors from its Bhopal plant. BHEL has previously supplied more than 450 electric locomotives of various power ratings to Indian Railways. It supplied its first 6 000 hp WAG-9H to the national operator in September 2018. The Jhansi plant has capacity to build around 100 locos per year. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Does anyone else see the irony in this. A "greener" way of shifting all of that coal to burn in a power station...

Like I said before....a shunter. This would be a godsend to anyone with limited space. A wagon pack with the shunter could see someone enjoying the Irish scene for little outlay and limited space needed.

An Post will have received your parcel from the American postal service. When you finally receive it lodge a complaint with the American postal service giving the details of your parcel like date of posting in the USA etc. To get the contract from the U.S. postal service An Post have to fulfill certain commitments, one of which is the delivery of the item within a certain time frame. Email or write to the CEO of An Post telling him you are going to do this.

China, believe it or not, is still classed as a "developing" country and that is why it gets all of these deals with European postal system.

A man goes into a cinema with a bear on a leash. Cinema attendant "You cannot bring that bear into the cinema." Man with bear "He will be very disappointed. He read the book so now he wants to see the film version."

Wonder when this version of the class 37 will appear in the line up? Dual-fuel Class 37 and 66 locomotive concepts unveiled | Rail Business UK | Railway Gazette International

Well the wife's underwear was stolen from the clothesline but I found the missing item not so far away...

Don't forget that British Rail were very impressed with the 071 class and were precluded from buying them by politicians. If BR had been able to purchase 071 locos we would have had the 071s in rail blue, large logo, wrap around yellow ends etc not to mention sectorisation liveries. Would be nice to see some photo shopped images of the above.

Make a good photo if someone stood beside that with a rubber patch from a bicycle repair kit....One for 1st April next year. Would make a nice Christmas card...

I would hazard a guess and say once 2nd April comes the stock will be gone........

If you have a couple of free days in early April and looking for a break have a look at this Heavy Haul Rail (informa.com.au) and if you are planning laying some track in the near future there is this Rail Turnouts 2022 (informa.com.au). A little late for a romantic getaway with the Mrs but you might be able to swing it saying it is important as you want to get your loft layout right.

I did not know that they owned ABEBOOKS, I thought it was THE BOOK DEPOSITORY that they had taken over.

You have more important things in life to be worried about than trying to deal with AMAZON. Sometimes it is the "little" things like this AMAZON situation that can build and make it harder to deal with other more important issues, such as your wife's illness. Fair enough it is only an AMAZON bill and trying to sort it someone would say, but they do not understand that given enough little things of a negative nature they can build and be a tipping point when you are trying to deal with something more serious, like your dear wife's condition. Regards to you and your wife and hopefully you will be able to navigate the road ahead without any more similar distractions.

I have never bought anything from AMAZON.

Owing to the price of fuel my "A" class locos are laid up at the depot at the moment. Was running one and it ran out of fuel so it is blocking the mainline. Normally I'd send one of the 071 fleet to rescue the loco and clear the line but I can't afford to fuel them either....

Many moons ago when I was a wee wain, the family went by train from Dublin to Galway. When we got to Galway my father went to the luggage van to collect my pram, and there it was...gone. Despite having a luggage destination tag on it, it had been put off somewhere else. Anyway it turned up before the holiday was finished. A well travelled pram!

Watching the rugby today. On RTE Jacqui Hurley in the studio had on pink trousers for the Wales/Italy match, yet for the France/England match she is wearing black trousers. I thought this would give us something else to discuss other than the "A" class....

I can just imagine him standing by the track with his thumb out when he sees a train approaching......

Helped me out too.

Yes they do, I phrased my post wrongly, so thank you for that correction. I still rate the 141/181's highly even without the rotating axle boxes.

I think the issue was the way Irish Rail were using the HEP facility. I think a revised schedule sorted that out.

I stand corrected on the "A" class and the sprung buffers. I just checked but you really have to push them to get them to move. Must be a very tight fit but like I say not a deal breaker for me. Likewise the speakers and lighting package would not be high my list.