British Rail Class 99 (locomotive)
{{Short description|Planned railway locomotive to be used in the United Kingdom}}
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{{about|rail locomotives|Sealink train ferries|British Rail Class 99 (ships)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = British Rail Class 99
| image = InnoTrans 2024, Berlin (P1200254).jpg
| caption = A GB Railfreight Class 99 at Innotrans 2024
| powertype = Electro-diesel
| designer =
| builder = Stadler Rail Valencia
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| totalproduction = 30
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| aarwheels =
| uicclass = Co′Co′
| Britishclass = Co-Co
| gauge = {{track gauge|standard}}
| bogies =
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| locoweight =
| sandcap =
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| electricsystem = 25 kV 50 Hz AC
| collectionmethod = Pantograph
| primemover = Cummins QSK50
| enginetype = Four-stroke V16 diesel{{cite web |title=QSK50 for Locomotives and Railway Applications|publisher=Cummins |url=https://mart.cummins.com/imagelibrary/Asset/4087221_0924.pdf.ashx |access-date=29 October 2024 |format=PDF}}
| aspiration = Turbocharged with intercooler
| displacement = {{cvt|3066.4|cuin|L|1|order=flip}} total
| alternator =
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| safety =
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| maxspeed = {{cvt|120|km/h|mph|order=flip}}
| poweroutput = {{ubl|{{convert|6170|kW|hp|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} (electric)|{{convert|1790|kW|hp|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} (diesel)}}
| poweroutput start =
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| tractiveeffort = up to {{cvt|500|kN}}
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| operator = GB Railfreight
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| numinclass =
| fleetnumbers = 99001–99030
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| deliverydate = 2025 (scheduled)
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| currentowner = Beacon Rail
| disposition = Planned
| notes =
}}
The British Rail Class 99 is a class of dual-mode electro-diesel Co-Co locomotives that will haul freight trains on both electrified and non-electrified lines. It is based on the Stadler Euro Dual platform.
Specification
The {{cvt|75|mph|-1}} locomotive has a maximum tractive effort of "up to" {{convert|500|kN|abbr=on}}, and a power rating of {{convert|6170|kW|hp|abbr=on}} in electric mode. These figures exceed those of the diesel-powered British Rail Class 66.
=Diesel performance=
The Class 99 locomotive has a 16-cylinder {{convert|1790|kW|abbr=on}} Cummins QSK50 engine installed.
Peter Dearman, an expert in traction electrification,
{{cite web |title=Our people: Leadership Teams: President |url=https://www.thepwi.org/about/teams/ |publisher=THE INSTITUTION FOR RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING |access-date=2 August 2023}}
reported in Rail Engineer in early 2023 that the Class 99 may only be able to deliver {{cvt|1600|kW}} at the rail in diesel mode.{{cite web |author1=Peter Dearman |title=The Future role of rail: A strategic freight network |url=https://www.railengineer.co.uk/the-future-role-of-rail-a-strategic-freight-network/ |website=RailEngineer |publisher=Rail Engineer Magazine |access-date=26 February 2023 |date=21 December 2022 |quote=Bi-mode locomotives have the flexibility to take power from the wires or diesel fuel. Yet they have limited spaced for an engine due to their electric traction equipment. It is understood that the recently ordered Class 99 bi-mode locomotives will only be able to deliver {{convert|1600|kW|abbr=on}} at the rail.}} However, this was before the first production locomotive was exhibited at InnoTrans in September 2024.
The chief executive of GBRf, John Smith, reports that the Class 99, despite having a less powerful diesel engine than the Class 66, will outperform the Class 66 at low speeds. The greater tractive effort means that the Class 99 on diesel power can deliver more power at the rail than the 66.{{cite web |title=The Class 99s - John Smith at InnoTrans | date=25 September 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lul2el5jOA |publisher=GBRf |access-date=21 October 2024}}
Planned use
The locomotives are expected to enter service in 2025,{{Cite web |date=29 April 2022 |title=Stadler Class 99 bi-mode Co'Co' locomotive being introduced to UK in deal with Beacon Rail and GBRf |url=https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/stadler-class-99-bi-mode-coco-locomotive-being-introduced-to-uk-in-deal-with-beacon-rail-and-gbrf/ |access-date=29 April 2022 |website=RailBusinessDaily |language=en-US}} and will most likely to be first used for intermodal work on the West Coast and East Coast mainlines.
They will be maintained by Stadler at a new facility in Leicester.{{cite magazine |title=Stadler to maintain Class 99s at Leicester |last=Clinnick |first=R. |department=Headline News |magazine=Rail Express |date=June 2023 |issue=325 |page=12 |publisher=Mortons Media Group |location=Horncastle |issn=1362-234X}}
History
In April 2022, Beacon Rail and GB Railfreight signed an agreement for the supply of 30 locomotives to replace their Class 66 locomotives.{{cite web |title=GBRf orders Stadler bi-mode Class 99 locomotives |url=https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2022/04/29-stadler-bimode-class-99-locomotives.html |website=Railnews|access-date=29 April 2022}}[https://www.modernrailways.com/article/gbrf-orders-30-stadler-class-99-bi-mode-locos GBRf orders 30 Stadler Class 99 bi-mode locos] Modern Railways 29 April 2022
The locomotive was formally launched by GBRf in September 2024 at Innotrans 2024.{{cite web |author1=Keith Fender |title=Stadler presents class 99 locomotive |url=https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/stadler-presents-class-99-locomotive/ |website=International Rail Journal |access-date=29 October 2024 |date=September 26, 2024}}
See also
References
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External links
- [https://beaconrail.com/en/fleet-item/cl-99/ Specification datasheet from Beacon Rail]
{{British Rail Locomotives}}
Category:Electro-diesel locomotives of Great Britain