British Rail Class 92

British Rail Class 92
A GBRF Class 92 in Caledonian Sleeper livery at London Euston
Type and origin
BuilderABB Transportation and Brush Traction
Build date1993–1996[1]
Total produced46
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo′Co′
 • CommonwealthCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter1.14 m (3 ft 9 in)[2]
Minimum curve120 m (6 chains)[2]
Wheelbase17.22 m (56 ft 6 in)[2]
 • Bogie4.29 m (14 ft 1 in)[2]
Pivot centres12.764 m (41 ft 10.5 in)[2]
Length21.36 m (70 ft 1 in)[2]
Width2.64 m (8 ft 8 in)[2]
Height3.96 m (13 ft 0 in)[3]
Loco weight
Electric system/s
Current pickup(s)
Traction motors
Train heating
  • Electric (1500 V, 800 A)[4]
  • On 25 kV: index 180 (900 kW)
  • On 750 V: index 108[2] (540 kW)
Loco brake
Train brakesPneumatic
Safety systems
Performance figures
Maximum speed87 mph (140 km/h)
Power output
  • On 25 kV: 5.04 MW (6,760 hp)[2]
  • On 750 V: 4.00 MW (5,360 hp)[2]
Tractive effort
Career
Operators
Numbers92001–92046
Axle load classRoute availability 8[2]

The British Rail Class 92 is a dual-voltage electric locomotive, which can run on 25 kV AC from overhead wires or 750 V DC from a third rail. It was designed specifically to operate services through the Channel Tunnel between Great Britain and France. Eurotunnel indicates the Class 92 locomotive as the reference for other locomotives which railway undertakings might want to get certified for usage in the Channel tunnel.

Locomotives of this type are operated by GB Railfreight/Europorte 2 and DB Cargo UK. In France, a number were also owned and operated by SNCF; these were classified as CC 92000 on French railways.

The Class 92 was intended as a mixed-traffic locomotive both for hauling international freight trains and the ill-fated, never introduced Nightstar passenger sleeper trains though the Channel Tunnel. Since introduction, the fleet was exclusively allocated to freight; however, in March 2015, six locomotives owned by GB Railfreight have begun passenger operations hauling the Caledonian Sleeper on behalf of Serco between London and Scotland, marking the first use of the class in commercial passenger service.

  1. ^ "Development for Europorte 2: Eurotunnel buys five Class 92 locomotives". Paris: Groupe Eurotunnel. 15 February 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Marsden & Fenn 2001, p. 133
  3. ^ a b "Class 92 locomotives". Bucharest: DB Cargo Romania. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  4. ^ System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 9. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  5. ^ Rail Accident Report 05/2020: Loss of brake control on a sleeper train approaching Edinburgh, 1 August 2019 (PDF). Derby: Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. 23 September 2020. p. 17. Retrieved 22 November 2022.


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