Brand new locomotive hauled trains for TPE

By Richard Clinnick
|
23 May 2016
News

Locomotive-hauled trains will return to TransPennine routes with Class 68s hauling Mk 5 carriages between Liverpool and Newcastle.

TransPennine Express (TPE) ordered 125 new vehicles on May 23, including 12 five-car electric multiple units (EMU) and 13 sets of five-car carriages built by CAF. Eversholt Rail Group will fund the EMUs, while Beacon Rail finances the locomotive-hauled coaching stock. Class 68s leased from Direct Rail Services will haul the LHCS. TPE says no UK manufacturer took part in the competitive tender process and that most of the ‘68s’ to be used are already in the UK. TPE is the third Train Operating Company to lease the locomotives, following Chiltern Railways (CR) and ScotRail (SR). CR leases six, and SR two.

TPE will use the Civity trains between Manchester/Liverpool to Glasgow/Edinburgh. The ‘68s’ will operate between Liverpool and Newcastle. The new fleets follow on from the AT300 deal announced in April, which will see Hitachi Rail Europe build 19 five-car bi-mode trains for use on trains to Edinburgh via the East Coast Main Line.

For much more on this, read RAIL 802, published on June 8.

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Author: Richard Clinnick

Head of News (Print and Digital)

[email protected]

Our Head of News, Richard joined RAIL in 2005 from local press, where he had been working since 2002. He covers all aspects of news for the magazine and website, specialising in operations and rolling stock.

Comments (9)

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Comments

Sam Green - 23/05/2016 16:15

What happened to electrification of lines in the north creating a " Northern Powerhouse "?
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7D3 - 23/05/2016 17:36

I like this, these trains look like they are going to be tilting trains.
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D. O'Connell - 23/05/2016 20:07

Why was it that no UK train builders made a bid for this contract?
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- FrankH - 23/05/2016 22:05
  
  It was 20+ years ago that the last loco was built here. No loco builders left, only refurbs.
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- BigTone - 26/05/2016 17:56
  
  Probably too busy. Hitachi are flat out with Classes 800, 801 and 802 for GWR, VTEC, Hull Trains and Trans Pennine and the EMUs for Scotrail. Bombadier have the Crossrail contract. Seimens have Thameslink (I know, they're German)
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FrankH - 23/05/2016 22:17

Excellent news, best I've heard in a while. They could use the bi mode version (class 88) as well. Looks like the trans pennine electrification is quietly being put to sleep, it's not needed now is it.
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Jimmy Barrett - 23/05/2016 22:36

Class 68 locos? Diesel? I thought the trans Pennine route was to be electrified. Also, what will the top speed of these trains be? More 100mph running on a 125mph railway? Back to the future with a vengeance.
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- FrankH - 23/05/2016 22:57
  
  I'll vote Doc Emmet Brown for driver.
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- BigTone - 24/05/2016 01:28
  
  I should imagine the Class 68s are a stopgap. Remember that it will be 2023 when the Trans Pennine North electrification is down to be completed. It would not surprise me if when completed, the Class 68s are replaced by 125 mph electric locos (Class 91?) or powered EMU driving coaches to make 6 coach units
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G Barber - 24/05/2016 09:06

Can CAF deliver 4 different train fleets at the same time ????? LHCS, 125mph EMU, 100mph EMU and 100mph DMU. It has not produced ANY UK mainland trains for 15 years and has no experience with NETWORK RAIL train acceptance. Look at the problems with one train fleet acceptance such as the Class 700 OR THE Class 800. Have CAF bit off more than they can chew ?????
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Dave - 24/05/2016 09:46

Is there a problem with Class 700 acceptance? - that may be the public message, but I was of the opinion that the root cause was GTR not training sufficient drivers...
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- Jimbob Baggins - 24/05/2016 12:27
  
  As a person on the inside, that is also the message I am seeing. The 'acceptance issues' are more of a front being used by other parties to explain why there are delays to entering service. I believe it is a similar case with the Class 800
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Rd meena wcr - 05/06/2016 23:30

Train looking very good in appearance and would be comfortable for rail users. What would be maximum speed of train & What is the Horse power of locomotive
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- BigTone - 17/06/2016 00:18
  
  The Class 68 is rated at 3750 (might be 3800) hp with a top speed of "the ton"/100 mph.About the same weight as a Class 20. Looks nice inside. There was one on show at the NEC, two years ago
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markashmore - 11/06/2016 11:02

Electrification I needed urgently as otherwise the four busy stations (one million users ORR Figs) between Stalybridge and Huddersfield will never get the service they deserve and urgently need.
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- BigTone - 17/06/2016 00:26
  
  Its coming but Sir Peter Hendy wants to do a proper job. Stanedge Tunnel is the biggest job. Remove the track, lower the trackbed, replace the track and put the wires up. The plan is to divert the trains via Calder Valley while the work is done on the main Trans Pennine North route
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