Approximately one month ago, on 23 February 2017, 88003 'Genesis' is lifted onto the Eemslift Nelli. Soon the six Class 88s already in the UK will be joined by the remaining four. Picture by Malcolm Wilton-Jones.

Some short news from Spain regarding the delivery of Class 68 and 88 locomotives to Beacon Rail and DRS. Locomotives 88006 'Juno', 88007 'Electra, 88009 'Diana' and 88010 'Aurora' have been transported to the Port of Sagunto, from where they will be shipped to the United Kingdom. When the locos arrive on British soil, all ten Class 88s will have been delivered to the UK. None have entered service yet, pending certification and dynamic testing.

Not only Class 88s have made it to Sagunto. Among the four bi-modes, there were also two Class 68 locomotives. One of the two is 68027, which is still in a basic blue livery.

Recently, five Class 88 locomotives have embarked on a journey to the UK. Locomotives 88001, 88003, 88004, 88005 and 88008 gathered in the Port of Sagunto to await the start of their journey to UK where the will join loco 88002, which is already there for certification, static and dynamic testing. On February 23, loading of the locomotives onto the Eemslift Nelli took place, which is now on its way to the Port of Workington.

The future Beacon Rail / DRS 88005 is loaded onto the Eemslift Nelli on February 23, 2017. Picture by Malcolm Wilton-Jones.

The future Beacon Rail / DRS 88003 is loaded onto the Eemslift Nelli on February 23, 2017. Picture by Malcolm Wilton-Jones.

The future Beacon Rail / DRS 88004 is loaded onto the Eemslift Nelli on February 23, 2017. Picture by Malcolm Wilton-Jones. Stadler Rail Valencia: UK DUAL

The first of 10 class 88 locomotives by @VosslohGroup to arrive in the UK, making a stop at #Studley base before heading to #DRS Carlisle. pic.twitter.com/gAvPcfh8D2

— Allelys Group (@AllelysGroup) January 24, 2017

DRS 88007 has been seen in an advanced stage of construction.

A DAVID CLOUGH pic of 88007 at Valencia during commissioning on 19/10/16. @RAIL has an EXCLUSIVE feature coming up on David's visit. pic.twitter.com/QmEPmAOKxG

— Richard Clinnick (@Clinnick1) 21 oktober 2016

Continuing its journey towards Berlin, DRS 88003 was seen in Oberhausen by Rolf Alberts today (September 12).

Seen this evening in north-west Germany:

139 558 fuhr heute von Neuss Gbf nach Mönchengladbach, von dort aus nach Aachen West um eine Lok abzuholen und brachte diese dann vermutlich nach Rheydt. _ Mit @trains.by_me und für die verbesserte Nachtruhe von @henniroggen der diese Lokomotive dummerweise nicht in Kaarst-Büttgen fotografierte. _ #BR139 #railadventure #eisenbahnbilder #eisenbahnfieber #eisenbahnromantik #eisenbahnfotografie #train_nerds #trb_express #trainspotting #trainphotography #trainphotographics #trainspotter_gegen_mobbing #trains_worldwide #trainstagram #tv_transport #trainlovers_of_germany #railways_de #railways_of_our_world #railways_of_germany #rsa_theyards #railhub #railwayculture #german_trainlovers #kings_transports #pocket_rail #500subs_kaycee

A photo posted by Hans-Peter //aka. Kilian// (@trainspotter_gk) on Sep 8, 2016 at 12:13pm PDT

Direct Rail Services has released an image showing the livery of the brand new 88002. The colour scheme of the Class 88s will be largely the same as that applied to the operator's Class 68 locomotives, but additionally sports red and blue grid of lines (MLD: reminding us of overhead power lines).

DRS states on its website: "Testing of 88001 in Velim has concluded. Reporting on the testing Stadler Rail said: During UKDual test campaign in Velim, two main goals have been covered. First, we have focused to perform all test related to homologation purposes by using the capabilities of Velim test center (TSI track, catenary characteristics, braking distances.). As second goal, we have tested and adjusted locomotive performances as traction control in different conditions, diesel engine and electrical power management, by hauling a train of 1500 tonnes and an ER20 locomotive."

As our first dual locomotive, new functionalities of control software have been validated as dynamic mode changing between electrical operation to diesel operation (and viceversa) and fine tuning of automatic speed control.

Finally, Velim test site has been used as first scenario to show to DRS the behavior of the locomotive and let to our customer to feedback us with the first impressions about UKDual locomotive."

DRS also commented about the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin in September where Stadler and DRS will present a Class 88 locomotive. We now know that the locomotive in question will be 88003.

In just over two months, the Innotrans trade fair in Berlin will open its doors again. Stadler Rail will be present with a UK DUAL locomotive for Beacon Rail / DRS, better known as Class 88. Other Stadler rolling stock on display will be the EC250 EMU for SBB, a Flirt EMU for NS, a sleeping coach for Azerbaijan, a CityLink tram-train for Chemnitz and a Variobahn tram for Aarhus.

The future Beacon Rail / DRS 88001 has left VUZ Velim in the Czech Republic again and arrived in Kassel on July 4th behind Beacon Rail ER 20-003. It has been indicated that the loco would be forwarded to Aachen from there. Most likely, its destination is the Port of Antwerp.

A rare combination: a Class 88 electro-diesel built by Stadler Rail Valencia for the United Kingdom and a EuroRunner diesel locomotive built by Siemens for operations on the European mainland running together. Norman Gottberg captured Beacon Rail's 88001 and the freshly painted ER 20-003 on a trial run at VÚŽ Velim on June 2.

Ludwig GS aka Trainspotter GS just delivered these images of class 88 no. 88001 pulling its first freight trains on the test circuit of VUZ Velim in the Czech Republic.

After tests in diesel mode, trial runs with Class 88 locomotive 88001 in electric mode have also commenced. A nice image report of the loco testing the electrical equipment can be found here: link.

(Norman Gottberg)

On April 14, the future Beacon Rail/DRS 88001 was captured on camera behind Rail Adventure 103 222 traveling through Germany. The loco is on a journey to Velim (CZ), where it will be subjected to dynamic tests on the Velim test ring. Thanks Norman Gottberg, Christian Klotz, Alex Huber and Marcus Schrödter.

Class 88 loco 88001, a mainline hybrid (D+E) locomotive for Direct Rail Services from the UK, is on its way from Spain to Germany. Most likely the journey will then continue to VUZ Velim in the Czech Republic. Here we see the machine behind Crossrail's PB03, on its way from Antwerpen-Waaslandhaven to Aachen-West, in Deurne (BE). Thanks John Liekens.

88001 on test outside the Vossloh works, running on diesel power.

Bussnang, 4 November 2015 – Stadler Rail AG is to take over the Valencia-based locomotive business Rail Vehicles from Vossloh. The Spanish locomotive manufacturer has an annual turnover of more than EUR 200 million and employs approximately 850 people at its headquarters in Valencia. The purchase agreement was signed in Zurich yesterday, on Tuesday, 3 November 2015. Besides providing Stadler Rail with a foothold in the new market segment of diesel-electric locomotives, the takeover will offer the chance to tap into new, Spanish-speaking markets. Rail Vehicles has also built up a strong position in recent years in the areas of LRV, trams and metro vehicles.

The transaction is subject to the approval from the regulatory authorities. With the sale scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, the parties aim to execute the transaction in the first quarter of 2016. The transaction will take effect retroactively as of 1 July 2015. The takeover price is EUR 48 million.

New locomotive segment and Spanish-speaking markets
With the takeover of Rail Vehicles, Stadler Rail will enter a new locomotive market segment, inheriting an experienced workforce and a fully developed product portfolio.

Rail Vehicles is based in Valencia, where it develops and produces innovative diesel-electric locomotives such as the EURO 4000 – the most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in Europe. In addition, the company also develops and produces innovative metro trains, trams and Train-Trams at its headquarters in Valencia, and has established a strong market position in these areas. Rail Vehicles posted an annual turnover of EUR 223.2 million in 2014, and a turnover of EUR 182.4 million for the first nine months of 2015.

The takeover will also see Stadler Rail gain a foothold in new, Spanish-speaking markets around the world, with Rail Vehicles providing Stadler Rail access to markets on the Iberian peninsula, in South and Central America and in Africa.

Furthermore, this strategic move by Stadler Rail is a response to the consolidation wave caused by the merger of CNR and CSR to form the giant CRRC in China. The takeover of Rail Vehicles offers Stadler Rail the chance to consolidate its position in the European market.

An experienced management team
Thomas Ahlburg, Deputy CEO of the Stadler Rail Group, declared: “I am delighted that we have been able to take this step and integrate a company which not only represents the perfect addition to our product portfolio but also opens the door for us to several new markets. Rail Vehicles is an innovative company with a real competitive edge in the area of diesel-electric locomotives, and we are fortunate to be inheriting a highly experienced and motivated management and engineering crew.”

Hans Martin Schabert, CEO of Vossloh, added: “We are very pleased to have found such an experienced, respected and reliable buyer in Stadler Rail, and are convinced that the expertise, experience and company philosophies of both vehicle specialists complement each other perfectly. Being part of the Stadler Rail Group will afford Rail Vehicles great prospects for future development.”

New Division Latin for Stadler Rail
Stadler Rail is planning to integrate the Valencia location and its approximately 850 employees into the Group as the new Division Latin. The site has also been earmarked for a new competence centre for locomotive construction.

Read all about Vossloh Locomotives' product portfolio in our dedicated section on Mainlinediesels.net.

Today, Direct Rail Services (DRS) has published extra information about the new class 88 dual mode locomotives they have ordered:

Direct Rail Services have completed a purchase of the first ten (10) new state of the art Class 88 dual powered locomotives (with option for additional locomotives) from Vossloh España, a project in partnership with Beacon Rail Leasing Limited.
The Class 88 Locomotive is another technical innovation from DRS for the provision of superior traction equipment for UK operation, which will result in a step change for delivery of freight and passenger services.
A further development of the Class 68 platform, the Class 88 is a true “Dual Mode” locomotive combining both 25kv Electric and Diesel Electric operating modes. Key features of the Class 88 Locomotive include 4MW ABB equipment delivering a continuous electric power rating on the 25KV network, 700kW diesel engine for work away from overhead network (delivering 317KN of Tractive Effort in both modes), Superior adhesion capacity, Nominal 100mph top speed, 500KW ETH rating and Regenerative braking.

The Class 88 Locomotive shares many parts with the Class 68 Locomotive such as Bodyshell, Cabs (where the driver’s environment has been developed together with Union representatives to optimise the working conditions), Brake System, Bogies, Traction equipment and Control Software.
This new generation of dual powered locomotives is highly flexible, with the ability to service both heavy haul freight and high speed passenger services (with its self-rescue capability and flexibility to adapt to various passenger applications), whilst complying to the latest environmental targets (Euro IIIB compliant on diesel mode).

DRS and BRLL have worked closely together to develop the concept of this locomotive in direct relationship with Vossloh, heavily investing in the product, which is now offered to the market on a fully maintained basis, competitively priced whilst achieving great value for money, not suffering from traditionally high order quantities or long lead times, as the first locomotives will arrive in the UK during 2015.

Background information: Vossloh Euro Dual platform and DRS Class 68 UKLight.