Locomotives upgraded for European rail freight services on High Speed 1

DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd is to upgrade five Class 92 locomotives for rail freight operations on High Speed 1, as it continues with its plans to introduce regular services on Britain’s only European sized railway.

These powerful locomotives, which operate in the UK and the Channel Tunnel, are the only rail freight locomotives currently approved to work on the High Speed 1 rail route.

Special signalling equipment is being installed in each of the five Class 92 locomotives enabling them to work with the new signalling systems on High Speed 1. With one locomotive already fitted with this equipment, this investment will give DB Schenker Rail UK a fleet of six High Speed 1 enabled locomotives providing the capacity needed to operate regular services.

DB Schenker Rail UK will introduce regular European sized rail freight services on High Speed 1 this autumn.

Alain Thauvette, Chief Executive of DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd, said: “This investment provides the locomotive capacity needed to introduce regular European sized rail freight services in the UK. With regular services planned to be introduced by DB Schenker Rail during this autumn, the benefits for businesses to enjoy an enhanced trading corridor to and from the UK is fast becoming a reality.”

The work to introduce rail freight services onto High Speed 1 has been supported by the European Commission’s Marco Polo programme.