One of Direct Rail Services’ all-electric Class 88 freight locomotives has run up the East Coast main line for the first time.
Engineering work on the West Coast main line meant that DRS had to find a diversionary route from Daventry International Railfreight Terminal to Mossend Yard near Glasgow. This used to mean using diesel powered Class 66 locomotives, but the new path allows the entire journey to be powered by the overhead lines on the ECML.
David Robinson, deputy director of operations delivery for DRS, said: “This is a fantastic new route which enables us to utilise our excellent Class 88 locomotives as usual rather than replacing them with a diesel-powered engine.
“Each freight train takes around 76 lorries off our roads and running on electricity allows the engines to be much more environmentally friendly and helps with our commitment to reduce CO2 emissions.
“We’re delivering vital goods across the length of Britain and this, over 400-mile, journey highlights the benefit of rail freight and the smart use of utilising our electrified rail network.”
Which electrified route did it use to get from Daventry to the ECML? I assume it used the North London Line, as there are no east-west connections through the Midlands that are electrified throughout?
The route is detailed in the article. It went Up the West Coast main line from Daventry, onto the North London line, then Down the East Coast main line but taking the Hertford Loop between Alexandra Palace and Stevenage.