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| GBRf Class 70 | |
|---|---|
| Name | GBRf Class 70 |
| Powertype | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | General Electric |
| Builddate | 2009–2010 |
| Totalproduction | 30 |
| Uicclass | Co-Co |
| Fleetnumbers | 70001–70030 |
| Operator | GB Railfreight |
GBRf Class 70 is a class of Co-Co diesel-electric freight locomotives built by General Electric for use by GB Railfreight, introduced into service in 2009. The design blends American heavy-haul practice with adaptations for United Kingdom loading gauge and route availability, intended to haul intermodal, coal, and steel trains across the British railway network. Delivery, operation, and subsequent modifications involved interactions with manufacturers, leasing companies, regulatory authorities, and operators across the United Kingdom and Europe.
The locomotives were developed by General Electric at facilities associated with the GE Transportation lineage, influenced by export designs used in Australia, South Africa, and North America. Initial procurement was arranged between GB Railfreight, the leasing company Ascendos Rail Leasing (formerly GE Capital Rail Services), and EWS-era advisers, amid contemporary freight market growth after the Railways Act 1993. Design adaptations addressed the United Kingdom loading gauge, axle load restrictions imposed by Network Rail, and compatibility with UK train protection systems such as Train Protection & Warning System and multiple working with other Co-Co locomotives. Prototype testing occurred on main lines radiating from Doncaster and Crewe, with acceptance trials overseen by Office of Rail and Road protocols and Rail Safety and Standards Board guidance.
The locomotives feature a 16-cylinder prime mover in a diesel engine format supplied by GE, coupled to an AC alternator and AC traction motors derived from GE Evolution Series technology. The chassis is a six-axle Co-Co arrangement with an approximate weight tailored to Route Availability 7 clearances and with dynamic braking capability suited to long freight workings. Onboard systems include multiple unit controls compatible with Class 66 and Class 59 operations, cab ergonomics influenced by European Railway standards, and on-train monitoring equipment interoperable with Network Rail traffic management. Electrical architecture supports regenerative and rheostatic braking modes, auxiliary power distribution for head-end power-style services, and onboard diagnostics similar to GE Global fleet management suites.
Upon entry into service, units were deployed on key freight flows between Felixstowe, Immingham, Grangemouth, and South Wales steelworks, replacing or supplementing Class 66 and Class 60 allocations. Timetabled workings included intermodal flows to and from Port of Felixstowe, aggregate trains serving Tilbury and West Thurrock, and engineering trains supporting High Speed 1 infrastructure possession moves. Deployment decisions involved coordination with freight operating companies such as DB Cargo UK, Freightliner, and terminals run by DP World and Associated British Ports. Maintenance cycles were established at depots including Crewe Diesel Depot and Doncaster Carr works, with overhaul programs linked to Rolling Stock Exchanges and leasing arrangements managed by Beacon Rail and other rolling stock lessors.
In service, the class demonstrated high tractive effort and improved route availability compared with earlier heavy freight designs like English Electric-derived locomotives, enabling longer, heavier trains on routes serving hubs such as Doncaster and Crewe. Early operational periods saw teething issues addressed by GE service teams and GB Railfreight engineering staff, with mean time between failures statistics tracked by Rail Safety and Standards Board datasets and industry benchmarking against classes including Class 59 and Class 66. Fuel efficiency and emissions performance were measured against evolving European Union emissions standards and UK environmental targets, prompting retrofits and software updates to control systems overseen by regulatory bodies including the Environment Agency.
Over their service life, several units received modifications to improve adhesion control, onboard electronics, and crew comfort, implemented through contracts with Wabtec-affiliated workshops and subcontractors in Doncaster and Scunthorpe. Adaptations included installation of updated train protection interfaces for European Train Control System interoperability on pilot routes, upgraded braking software influenced by research at the University of Birmingham rail research group, and coupling modifications to suit Scharfenberg-type operations in specific terminal scenarios. Discussions with leasing firms such as Artemis resulted in mid-life overhaul plans and options for re-powering or export to international markets like Portugal and Poland.
The fleet was numbered in the 70000 series and carried initial GB Railfreight corporate livery variations featuring the operator’s colors and logos used across promotional campaigns and seasonal timetable publications. Special promotional liveries appeared for customer launches at Felixstowe and industry exhibitions such as Railtex and InnoTrans-aligned showcases, with photographic records held by preservation and enthusiast groups around Didcot Railway Centre and National Railway Museum collections. Numbering and reporting marks followed TOPS conventions consistent with other freight classes managed by GB Railfreight and recorded in industry registers maintained by RailUK and Railway Gazette International.
Like other heavy freight classes operating on dense networks, units were involved in a limited number of incidents ranging from minor collisions and vandalism events to service-impairing failures requiring emergency recovery by Network Rail possessions teams and Rail Accident Investigation Branch notifications where applicable. Incidents prompted procedural reviews involving operators such as GB Railfreight, infrastructure managers including Network Rail, and insurers from firms like Lloyd's of London. Investigation outcomes led to targeted mitigation measures, updated operational protocols at terminals like Immingham and Teesport, and enhancements to cab security and anti-vandal fittings implemented at depots.
Category:Diesel locomotives of the United Kingdom Category:Co-Co locomotives