Class 93 undertakes first West Coast Main Line test runs

After several false starts, Rail Operations Group 93001 finally undertook its first main line test run on the West Coast Main Line on December 10, when it worked light engine as the 2227 Crewe South Yard-Carlisle.

The Stadler tri-mode Bo-Bo locomotive set off 17 minutes late, but arrived a couple of minutes early. It returned at 0151.

The test runs were pathed at just 75mph (a Class 93 is capable of 110mph), and it took two and a half hours to cover the 141 miles between Carlisle and Crewe.

The following day it repeated the test running with a rake of Mk 3 coaches, and was timed at 100mph northbound and 75mph on the southbound.

The locomotive leaves Crewe yard on diesel or battery power and then puts the pantograph up in the station to set off running using the 25kV AC overhead lines.

The tests were delayed by two weeks, owing to the locomotive having an issue with a sticking contact on a convertor. That need not have prevented the test, but ROG wanted to have the locomotive running perfectly before engaging on the main line runs.

There was one minor software issue on the test that was soon resolved. ROG is happy with how the tests have been going so far.