Class 66 thought to be the last for the UK arrives from Europe

Possibly the last Class 66 to be delivered to a UK operator - 266-015 (29003) - arrived at Immingham on December 4 and was taken by Allelys Heavy Haulage to Loughborough, for preparation to convert it as 66316.

It is likely to be the last ‘new’ Class 66 to run in the UK.

In 2022, GB Railfreight undertook leases on 11 Akiem Class 66s that had been in use in mainland Europe. They were steadily imported and converted to UK specifications, numbered 66306-316.

Presently 66306-314 are in traffic, with 66315 in the final stages of its conversion. It has been painted into GBRf colours.

Having ordered 30 Class 99 Electro-diesel locomotives, which are now being built with the first due in the UK in 2025, GBRf is not seeking to source any more Class 66s.

It had previously imported locomotives from mainland Europe when the production of new build Class 66s ended in 2016.

It gives the freight operator a fleet of 115 Class 66s, of which three (66790-792) are on long term hire to Colas Rail.

Class 66 production started in 1996 with the first locomotives delivered in 1998 to EWS. Since then, Freightliner, GBRf, Direct

Rail Services, Fastline Freight, Advenza and Colas have all operated the type.

The current UK fleet is 412 - split between DB Cargo (165), DRS (19), GBRf (115), Colas (five) and Freightliner (108) - with nine stored pending heavy maintenance.

Another new locomotive that will soon enter the GBRf fleet is 69014, which was ready for main line testing in mid-December.

With the Railhead Treatment Train season over, both 68013/014, which are in undercoat, will be released to move to Eastleigh for their repaints, (expected to be in January).