DRS HERITAGE FLEET SELL OFF
Published at 10:00 on Tuesday 19th October 2021
Tags: DRS, Class 20, Heritage, Sale
With the last of the debranded stock from the Fife circle trains in tow, hence the tatty appearance, DRS Class 37/7 No. 37716 rounds Queensville curve south of Stafford on 17th June 2021, with 06:18 Carlisle Kingmoor Sidings to Nemesis Rail at Burton on Trent. This is one of the locomotives currently being offered for sale by DRS. James Windows
Direct Rail Services has confirmed that it is to start selling its heritage locomotive fleet.
The sale will include all of the company’s remaining Class 20s and a selection of Class 37 and 57 locomotives, along with its Mk2 coaches. Aside from the actual locomotives, there will be an amount of spare parts for the same type of vehicles offered. DRS says this is the first in a series of locomotive sales that will reduce its Class 37 and 57 fleets, with the operator focusing future operations on its modern, fuel-efficient Class 66, 68 and 88 designs.
The sale is being operated through an online bidding process, using the EU-Supply.com site, for which bidders will need to be registered to see the details and tender documents. The sale closes at midday on 11th November.
Chris Connelly, NTS Deputy CEO and Rail Director, said: “This is an important first step for DRS as we look at our fleet and our plans for the future. The Class 20s are really special engine to us, having been with us from the start, but things move on and a modern, dynamic rail freight operator needs a modern fleet to match our ambitions. This is the first phase and there will be more Class 37s and some 57s offered in the future as we move towards our net carbon zero ambitions.”
Those locomotives offered for sale in the first advertisement, are Class 20s Nos. 20301-20305, 20308, 20309 and 20312, Class 37s Nos. 37606 and 37703, and Class 57/3s Nos. 57302 and 57311. Also available are four Mk2 coaches, Nos. 5173, 5787, 5937 and 6064.
