CHILTERN TO LEASE SIX CLASS 68 LOCOMOTIVES FROM DRS
Published at 00:00 on Thursday 10th April 2014
Tags: DRS, Class 68, Vossloh, Chiltern Railways, Mainline, Passenger
Class 68 No. 68002 stands on Crewe Gresty Bridge depot. The last six members of the 15 strong class are due to be delivered by the autumn and will be leased to Chiltern Railways. John Whitehouse
Chiltern Railways has signed an agreement with Direct Rail Services for the provision of six Class 68 locomotives as part of a programme of continued investment in its Birmingham to London Marylebone Mainline route.
Chiltern will introduce the Class 68s onto its entire Mainline silver locomotive-hauled Mk3 fleet, which operates between London Marylebone and Kidderminster. A key aspect of the investment provides scope for future expansion as a result of the locomotive’s haulage capability.
The locomotives, constructed at Vossloh’s plant in Valencia, Spain, will be supplied under a sub-lease from DRS, numbered 68010 to 68015. The first vehicles will arrive with Chiltern in the autumn for driver training and it is planned that the locos will be introduced to passenger service before the end of the year.
