Engineered to run on both electricity and renewable fuels, a new fleet of advanced hybrid locomotives is set to reduce emissions by more than half on a typical journey, helping green the future of rail freight.
The trailblazing Class 99 locomotive was formally unveiled in England this week at the Peterborough hub of one of the leading rail freight operators in the UK, GB Railfreight (GBRf). The new hybrid fleet is the result of a major £150M investment made by GBRf, and backed by Infracapital, part of London-based M&G Plc.
These advanced and powerful locomotives are set to play a key role in decarbonising Britain’s supply chains by helping to deliver a cleaner, faster, and more resilient freight network, while supporting regional growth.
Rail freight plays a key role in driving the green economy — delivering £2.5bn of economic benefit in Britain alone, with each train removing up to 129 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from the road network.
Not surprisingly, political support for new trains is strong — with the Class 99 launch being attended by Minister of State for Rail, Lord Hendry of Richmond Hill, who champions its role in decarbonising transport:
“Major private sector investments like this £150M commitment to revolutionary Class 99 trains, demonstrate the confidence the rail freight industry has in its future under this Government.
“With robust protections for fair network access and ambitious growth targets a part of our plans for Great British Railways, we’re ensuring the rail freight sector has what it needs to thrive so it can continue removing thousands of HGVs from our roads whilst delivering huge economic benefits across the country.“
Rail logistics for manufacturers
Operator GBRf transports a diverse mix of goods up, down, and across the UK, including materials used for housebuilding and to heat homes, also aviation fuel to airports, clothes, white goods, and wine.
Built by Swiss manufacturer Stadler, in Valencia, Spain, the newly launched 99s will therefore need to move a vast range of consumable goods and materials to support critical projects and stock shops nationwide.
The fleet has a key role to play in driving the UK economy, says John Smith OBE, CEO of GBRf:
“The Class 99 locomotives set a new benchmark for performance and sustainability in UK rail freight. With hybrid capability, these locomotives provide the resilience and flexibility our customers need to meet today’s demands and tomorrow’s standards while supporting the UK’s drive towards net zero.”
Rail is an attractive proposition for manufacturers, adds Ben Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer of Make UK:
“A modern and efficient rail network is the hallmark of an advanced economy and will be crucial to boosting growth whilst, at the same time, helping accelerate decarbonisation and a substantial reduction in road transport emissions.
“Manufacturers are keen to make greater use of rail logistics and new freight technologies such as the Class 99 will make a critical contribution to cleaner, faster and more efficient supply chain movement.”
Switch from electric to renewables
The Class 99s are designed to power the future of freight. By running on electric lines where available and switching seamlessly to renewable fuels elsewhere, these advanced locomotives ensure that goods arrive at their destination sooner and more reliably, all whilst dramatically reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.
Of the £2.5bn that rail freight contributes in total to the British economy every year, it is estimated that some 90% of the resulting social and economic benefits are felt outside London and the South East.
As well as boosting regional growth, each freight train also removes up to 129 HGVs from Britain’s roads, reducing congestion, improving road safety, and cutting emissions — in a win-win for the environment.
The Class 99 first made its official debut at InnoTrans in Berlin last year. Once testing is complete, following the UK launch in Peterborough, the new locomotives will enter commercial service this winter.
Key features of the innovative 99 include:
- Hybrid Power: Runs on both electricity and renewable fuels for maximum flexibility and minimal emissions;
- Enhanced Performance: Delivers faster acceleration, reduced downtime, and increased productivity;
- Sustainability-Driven: Sets a new standard for green rail freight, helping customers meet national and corporate targets in the race to zero emissions.
It is all about innovating for transport tomorrow, sustainably and successfully, concludes John Smith:
“With the Class 99, we’re not just keeping pace with a changing network – we’re shaping its future. This is the cleanest, greenest, and fastest way yet to move freight by rail in the UK.”
Hauling TEUs and luxury sleepers
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in London, GB Railfreight (GBRf) is one of the fastest growing companies in the rail industry, with a workforce of more than 1,400 staff. GBRF has a 4,400 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity on its container services, and has also been engaged to haul the Britannic Explorer, a new Belmond train and the first luxury sleeper service to journey across England and Wales.
Further Reading:
- More about GB Railfreight (GBRf); and the Class 99 locomotive;
- More about global rolling stock specialist Stadler, manufacturer of the Class 99;
- Also on SustMeme, Decarbonising cold chain in the delivery decade;
- Also on SustMeme, Microalgae bioreactors on track for carbon capture;
- Also on SustMeme, Viability of River Thames to deliver freight at scale;
- Also on SustMeme, Charging ahead on the switch to electrified fleets;
- Also on SustMeme, Decarbonising logistics: ‘Supply Chain Resilience’ in The Sunday Times;
- Also on SustMeme, Road to rail helps get decarbonisation of waste on track.
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