British Rail Class 68

"Class 68" redirects here. For the Norwegian multiple unit class, see NSB Class 68.

British Rail Class 68
A DRS Class 68 locomotive
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
Builder
ModelStadler UKLight[1]
Build date2013–2017
Total produced34
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICBo′Bo′
 • CommonwealthBo-Bo
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter1,100 mm (3 ft 7+1⁄3 in)
Loco weightapproximately 85 t (84 long tons; 94 short tons)[2]
Fuel typediesel
Fuel capacity5,000 L (1,100 imp gal; 1,300 US gal)
Prime moverCaterpillar C175-16[3]
Traction motorsFour ABB 4FRA6063 (600 kW)
MU working
Train heatingElectric,
HEP inverter up to 500 kW (ETH index 96[5])
Loco brakeBlended: Rheostatic braking (2,100 kW); electropneumatic.[2]
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Power output3,800 hp (2,800 kW) at 1,740 rpm
Tractive effort317 kN (71,000 lbf)
Career
Operators
Numbers68001–68034
Official nameUKLight
Axle load classRA 7[4]
Delivered2014
First run2014
Current owner
[6]
Sources: Technical parameters.[7] (except where noted)

The Class 68 is a type of mainline mixed traffic diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by Stadler Rail Valencia (and previously by Vossloh España) for Direct Rail Services (DRS) in the United Kingdom. The design is derived from the Stadler Eurolight, and Stadler's product name for this variant is the UKLight.

On 5 January 2012, DRS announced the placement of an order for fifteen Class 68 locomotives, the first of which arrived in the UK during January 2014. The first batch of Class 68s was quickly followed by a second batch, also intended for DRS and the first batch to be built by Stadler. The delivery of these locomotives was completed during April 2016. A third batch of Class 68s was also ordered, deliveries of which were completed during July 2017. The Class 68 has since been followed by two related locomotives, the Class 88 and Class 93.

Since its introduction in 2014, the Class 68 has been used on numerous passenger and freight operations, including DRS's nuclear flask trains. In addition to DRS's freight operations, the operator has also used the type to haul various charter trains. Several units have been subleased to other operators, including Chiltern Railways, Abellio ScotRail, and TransPennine Express, for passenger services, hauling various rakes of carriages to do so, in some cases being outfitted with Association of American Railroads (AAR) push-pull apparatus.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Archived copy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Vossloh España unveils Direct Rail Services Class 68". railwaygazette.com. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  3. ^ "DRS Class 68 Next Generation Diesel-Electric Locomotive" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference eng2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Pritchard, Robert; Hall, Peter (2018). British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2018. Sheffield: Platform 5. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-909431-44-7. Wikidata Q105959010.
  6. ^ Dunn, Pip (21 February 2024). "What will become of the Class 68s?". Feature Rolling Stock. Rail Magazine. No. 1003. pp. 36–43.
  7. ^ "UK LIGHT Diesel-Electric Locomotive" (PDF). Vossloh Rail Vehicles. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2014.