The final batch of seven Class 66 locomotives are on their way to Doncaster, having been unloaded at the Port of Newport over the weekend.
Due to changes in EU emissions standards, these will be last new Class 66 locomotives to be built.
It is a significant milestone both for the recipient of the locomotives, GB Railfreight, and the manufacture of diesel locomotives, with a next-generation, diesel locomotive thought to be several years of development away.
The seven locomotives are numbered 66773 to 66779. They will take GBRf’s fleet of Class 66s to 78 locomotives.
Announcing their arrival, John Smith, managing director of GB Railfreight, said: “Today is a significant moment for GB Railfreight.
“It marks the culmination of over two years of collaboration with EMD on the 66s build project and I want to thank them for all their hard work and dedication in reaching this point.
“Today also marks the end of the Class 66 builds and these locomotives will be the last to arrive on UK soil.
“The rail freight industry now needs to work together to deliver a new generation of diesel locomotives that are legally compliant with the EU’s new diesel emissions regulations.
“We are very pleased to have been able to secure these last seven Class 66 locomotives. They support the company’s continued growth and enable us to carry on serving our customers across various markets, particularly aggregates, reiterating our commitment to supporting the government’s building Britain agenda.”
Billy Ainsworth, president and chief executive of Progress Rail Services, said: “Today serves as a milestone with the delivery of our last Class 66 locomotives.”
He went on to say that EMD, which is owned by Progress Rail, is currently working on a compliant locomotive. He said: “We are currently developing new generations of locomotives to meet our customers’ demands around the globe, just as we did through this offering.”
No wonder the Class 66 Diesel Locomotive Units are Britain’s best and reliable freight trains that carries freight cargos from port to port and even some of the Class 66’s are used on charter passenger duties and regional passenger duties including operating mainline passenger services operated by Chiltern Railways from London Marylebone to Worcester, Cheltenham, Hereford, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stourbridge, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Evesham, Oxford, Bicester, Aylesbury, Shrewsbury Wrexham, Telford, Bridgnorth and across the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, the West-Country, Black Country, the West Midlands and East Wales.
Because there was a train operator that ran from London to Wrexham, Shrewsbury and the Cotswolds called Wrexham and Shropshire Railway before it went into liquidation and Chiltern Railways took over the mainline services.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrexham_%26_Shropshire
Wrexham and Shropshire Railway did run services from Marylebone to Shropshire but they only ever used Class 67s.
Well that’s why Class 66 and Class 67 do look similar locomotives.
Class 66s and Class 67s have totally different cab shapes.
Indeed – in fact you would have a difficult job finding two locomotive designs that look less similar. They even have a different number of axles and cab windows. The only visible similarity is that both loco designs have corrugated side panels.
I fear that we are trying to explain facts and logic to a young and very immature child, not the kind of poster you expect to find posting on a technical website such as this. If I am correct it explains the inane comments about so many subjects and the need to write lists of place names.
Back on topic, I expect the lack of a compliant new freight diesel type to mean that a lot of old BR-era locos will be given a new lease of life – some may even be re-engined to bring many of the benefits of new build designs at a fraction of the cost.
Now I understand why that Chiltern Railway has the Class 67’s used on Mainline services and Class 66’s are mostly used on freight duties.
No you still don’t understand the reality Andrew – Chiltern Mainline services in 2016 are hauled by Vossloh built DRS class 68s. They used to be hauled by the older DBS class 67s. Chiltern put out a tender for new locos to replace the 67s. Class 68s replaced them a year ago – these modern locos are more fuel efficient and have about 17% more grunt meaning much better acceleration.
Nobody is bullying you, Andrew. Have we been calling you names?
What? I don’t know who that is.
People who comment and start complaining never seem to shut up. It’s dosent matter ok Ian.
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Dear Admin – I have just been called an idiot for pointing out ongoing factual errors from one poster. Do you consider that acceptable behaviour?
You are a joke Chris.
Would I get banned? If that was the case. Or would further action be taken place. That’s all I’m asking.
We don’t wish to ban anyone from commenting, but we would have to consider taking action if we found a user was posting abusive or threatening comments.
I have read the terms and conditions and I now know that I did use a odd bad word before I re-edit the comment I wrote.
Fine. I was wrong. End of crap stuff.
Ok I admit that just stop ok.
From what I hear, the drivers who work on them will not be very disappointed.