| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by ray951 at 20:24, 2nd October 2025 |     |
For those who missed the action over the last 2 nights, you will be glad to know that it is running again tonight (2/10/2025) and tomorrow (3/10/2025).
This time it is using 99001, 99002 and 69010
Timings are
Thursday https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R15439/2025-10-02/detailed#allox_id=0
Friday https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R15478/2025-10-03/detailed
To give you an idea of the timings it is passing through Didcot on the outward service at 23:32 tonight and on the return 20:51 tomorrow.
| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by John D at 08:26, 2nd October 2025 | |
Once energised could in theory get from Cardiff via Acton to Dunblane/Alloa on electric.
Or as far east as Ipswich/Norwich/Harwich (but not Felixstowe)
Not sure if it's possible to join HS1 (without a reversal) on 25kv and (if traction type was allowed) continue through Channel tunnel.
I think there are gaps in 25kv so can't go beyond Cardiff towards the Welsh valleys. And cannot take Mendip stone on electric as 25kv ends at Newbury. But maybe in a few years it might be possible.
| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by anthony215 at 22:18, 1st October 2025 | |
Photos show the two class 99s at Newport both with pantographs up
| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by stuving at 20:49, 1st October 2025 | |
With the Acton - Wells branch (Acton Yard to Acton Wells Jcn) being electrified I feel electric hauled fright will be a more common sight on the GWML
I am surprised this short non-electrified link has taken so long TBH. Was it the tight clearances of the road over bridge near the bottom of the bank that held it up?
If by that you mean why was it not decided to do it earlier, I think that's due to the process for funding decisions. Filling in electric gaps for goods use of for some unspecified future diversion does not have a budget held by someone who would sign off the work. And that isn't why it's being done now.
The justification that got the work signed off is to allow 345s to get from the western side of the Old Oak blockades to and from Ilford for R&R. (So I guess that means it's probably HS2 money that's paying for it.) That is first required in December 2026, and it's on schedule to be ready for that (so it's not late in that sense).
| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by Oxonhutch at 20:28, 1st October 2025 | |
With the Acton - Wells branch (Acton Yard to Acton Wells Jcn) being electrified I feel electric hauled fright will be a more common sight on the GWML
I am surprised this short non-electrified link has taken so long TBH. Was it the tight clearances of the road over bridge near the bottom of the bank that held it up?
| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by John D at 12:19, 1st October 2025 | |
There seemed to be a class 66 as a back up. Three locomotives seems over the top although in fairness it what was a long train of empty wagons.
Quite common when testing new traction, to have a backup locomotive (or 2) because if you are seeing if it can pull train up hills etc, and it doesn't, then have a problem. Much easier to then fire up the extra loco and move it.
Surprised that all the wagons were empty, as normally trying to confirm it can meet the theoretical timings for heavy loads. Often the tests are run few percent over 100% normal weight to give some margin in case not all locos in a batch are exactly same performance
| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by IndustryInsider at 12:15, 1st October 2025 | |
With the Acton - Wells branch (Acton Yard to Acton Wells Jcn) being electrified I feel electric hauled fright will be a more common sight on the GWML
Yes, indeed.
I think the Class 99s will be a big success story with their much beefier diesel engines than the earlier Class 88s. There's also the 'tri-mode' Class 93s very much on the horizon as well. Both types could well be seen on the GWML when this electrification is completed.
First of two sections to be energised is from Acton Wells Junction to a neutral section near the bottom of the bank from 3rd November, with the remaining bit through Acton Yard to follow. Do you know when that's scheduled for 'Electric train'?
| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by Electric train at 11:27, 1st October 2025 | |
The first electrically hauled freight train on the GWML ran last night (30/9/2025) using the new bi-mode class 99's owned by GBRF
It worked from Wellingborough on the MML to Acton then down the GWML to Pengam https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R15444/2025-09-30/detailed#allox_id=0
For those who didn't see it last night, the return journey is today and slightly earlier than last night's journey https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R15441/2025-10-01/detailed
There are various videos available on YouTube including this one taken at 23:30 at Didcot Parkway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeV03cGosOs.
Let's hope this the first of many.
It worked from Wellingborough on the MML to Acton then down the GWML to Pengam https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R15444/2025-09-30/detailed#allox_id=0
For those who didn't see it last night, the return journey is today and slightly earlier than last night's journey https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R15441/2025-10-01/detailed
There are various videos available on YouTube including this one taken at 23:30 at Didcot Parkway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeV03cGosOs.
Let's hope this the first of many.
With the Acton - Wells branch (Acton Yard to Acton Wells Jcn) being electrified I feel electric hauled fright will be a more common sight on the GWML
| Re: First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by REVUpminster at 10:39, 1st October 2025 | |
There seemed to be a class 66 as a back up. Three locomotives seems over the top although in fairness it what was a long train of empty wagons.
| First Electric freight train on GWML - 30th September 2025 Posted by ray951 at 08:38, 1st October 2025 | |
The first electrically hauled freight train on the GWML ran last night (30/9/2025) using the new bi-mode class 99's owned by GBRF
It worked from Wellingborough on the MML to Acton then down the GWML to Pengam https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R15444/2025-09-30/detailed#allox_id=0
For those who didn't see it last night, the return journey is today and slightly earlier than last night's journey https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R15441/2025-10-01/detailed
There are various videos available on YouTube including this one taken at 23:30 at Didcot Parkway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeV03cGosOs.
Let's hope this the first of many.
