British_Rail_Class_768

British Rail Class 768

British Rail Class 768

British electro-diesel cargo train


The British Rail Class 768 is a class of bi-mode multiple unit being converted from Class 319 passenger trains by Brush Traction and Wabtec to carry parcels.

Quick Facts Manufacturer, Built at ...

History

In December 2018, Rail Operations Group (ROG) ordered two Class 769s that were in the process of being developed by Brush Traction from redundant Class 319s, owned by rolling stock company (ROSCO) Porterbrook.[2] However unlike the Class 769s that remained as passenger trains, ROG's Orion High Speed Trains subsidiary intends to operate them as parcel carriers from London Liverpool Street to London Gateway.[3][4]

In February 2020, a further three were ordered to allow services to be introduced the Midlands to Scotland via the West Coast Main Line.[5] A further five has since been ordered. Originally to be classified as Class 769/5s, they were reclassified as the Class 768 before the first unit was completed.[6]

The first units received their traction conversions at Brush Traction, Loughborough, while the latter examples will be completed by Wabtec at Doncaster Works. They then move to Eastleigh Works where Arlington Fleet Services fit out the interiors and fit roller doors to carry pallets, bulk items and parcel cages.[6]

The units will operate in fixed formations of four (capable of running in multiples) at up to 100 mph. Unlike conventional rail freight, this provides direct access to city centres, with onward distribution from stations to be by van or bicycle courier. A demonstration from London Euston took place on 7 July 2021.[2][7]

Fleet list

More information Number, Rebuilt from ...

References

  1. "Class 319 Electric Multiple Unit" (PDF) (1) (A ed.). Porterbrook. August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Cuenca, Oliver (23 February 2021). "Rail Operations UK to launch Orion logistics service in April". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. "Faster rolling stock identified as key to shifting logistics traffic onto rail". Rail Magazine. No. 868. Bauer Media Group. 19 December 2018. p. 8.
  4. "Bi-modes for ROG postal trains". Rail Express. No. 273. February 2019. p. 13.
  5. "ROG targets extra Flexs for logistics traffic". Rail Magazine. No. 899. February 2020. p. 28.
  6. "Anglo-Scottish Debut for Orion". Modern Railways. No. 875. August 2021. p. 21.
  7. Streeter, Tony (28 July 2021). "Orion's parcels multiple unit shown off at Euston". Rail Magazine. No. 936. Bauer Media Group. pp. 8–9.
  8. "Class 768 moved". News In Brief. Rail Magazine. No. 997. 29 November 2023. p. 25.
  9. "Orion Trial in Euston Station". 7 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.

Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article British_Rail_Class_768, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.