50 Years of Progress in Loco-Hauled Coaching Stock
The arrival of one of the Network Rail infrastructure monitoring trains hauled by Class 37 locomotive 37175 at Longsight Depot on 19th September allowed an interesting comparison with a recently delivered CAF Mk5a set. These 5-coach trains are due to be entering service with Trans Pennine Express later this year. The locomotive was about to celebrate its 55th birthday having been officially released from the English Electric Vulcan Works on 20th September 1963. When it passed through the gate at Newton-le-Willows I doubt anybody would have anticipated it still operating on the main line well into the 21st century.
The CAF trains are being commissioned from the former Eurostar depot situated the other side of the main line from the Alstom depot. They are hauled by Vossloh/Stadler Class 68 locomotives and two of these locos (in TPE livery) are presently based at Longsight for driver training. Loco 68021, Tireless, can be seen in the background.
Given all of the investment in electrification of the rail network in the north-west of England in the last 8 years it seems rather ironic that the first brand new trains to be introduced will be diesel loco hauled coaching stock. Still I am sure they will be welcomed by the passengers and will soon be followed by new EMUs from CAF and bi-mode trains from Hitachi.
Not really loco-hauled coaching stock from what the UK has been used to. More of a hybrid unit with a fixed formation rake with the power pack concentrated in one vehicle. All our new Novas are extendable in future, all offering flexibility for future growth
Project Support Engineer
6 年The government said loco hauled coaching stock will never come back! Units are the future they said. Personally I think 1 big engine is better than 5 smaller engines!