TruckandTrackAutumn2019

Truck and Track Autumn 2019 www.truckandtrack.com 80 RAILFREIGHT GB Railfreight are pleased to announce that Locomotive 92006 has re-entered service following a £2 million refurbishment at Wabtec’s Brush Traction facility in Loughborough. The Class 92 will be used on the Caledonian Sleeper route once it has completed testing. Originally completed in 1996, the Class 92 last ran in 2006 before being placed into storage in France. The full overhaul and re- instatement of this locomotive is the last in a series of successful programmes of work developed jointly with Brush Traction, part of the Wabtec Group. With the introduction of Mark 5 Coaches on the Caledonian Sleeper, GBRf have fully rebuilt 92006 to haul the Coaches on both the Lowlander Caledonian Sleeper route between Euston and Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in due course the Highlander Caledonian Sleeper routes to Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness. The Class 92 has been fitted with special Dellner couplings, providing additional safety measures, improved communication equipment, and power upgrades to operate the more intensive services offered on this route. The locomotive has been painted in Caledonian Sleeper Livery and will now undergo test runs before entering traffic. John Smith, Managing Director of GBRf, said: “Our investment in the refurbishment of Class 92s for the new Caledonian Sleeper service means that customers will experience a reliable, state of the art, modern locomotive on their journey from London to Scotland. “We are delighted with the work Wabtec has carried out on the 92006 and we look forward to continuing our partnership to meet the growing demands in the rail freight sector.” Paul Bain, Managing Director of Brush Traction, said: “Brush are proud to have been involved with this truly collaborative project where we fully utilise our highly experienced skills. We look forward to continuing our strong working relationshipwith GBRf as a value-added solution provider.” GBRf’s £2million refurbished Class 92 to enter Caledonian Sleeper service PD Ports has won the Business of the Year Award at the Rail Freight Group’s annual excellence awards, with the judges praising its outstanding commitment to its customers and to the wider local community in the North East. Network Rail won the Project of the Year category for its enhancementworkontheFelixstowe toNuneatonroute, increasing capacity from 33 to up to 47 freight trains a day. A joint entry by Tarmac and RFS Works Ltd won the Innovation and Technical Development Award for a redesign of an urban depot including an innovative ‘Supergrab’ that significantly increased capacity and efficiency. Peel Ports in Liverpool triumphed in the Community & Environmental Responsibility category with the rejuvenation of rail services and a huge investment in training and in generating new jobs in the local community. There were also two individuals recognised at the awards – Alan Handley of DB Cargo for Outstanding Individual Contribution and Craig Bickley ofMaritime Transport was named as Young Railfreight Professional of the Year. The awards were presented by the awards’ sponsors and presenters on the night John Smith, MD of GB Railfreight (GBRf), and Simon Coppen of Burges Salmon at a dinner held on 12 September at the De Vere Latimer Estate Hotel, Chesham. Maggie Simpson, RFG Executive Director, said: “We continue to be amazed by the excellent and innovative work done by themembers of the Rail Freight Group and are pleased to be able to recognise some of them through these awards.” The Group welcomed Neil Robertson, Chief Executive, NSAR, who gave the after-dinner speech, andmoneywas raised for the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF), the chosen charity of the RFG Awards Dinner. PD Ports named RFG’s Business of the Year 2019 Pictured L to R: John Smith, Managing Director, GB Railfreight; Frans Calje, CEO, PD Ports; Patti Burt, Key Account Manager, PD Ports; KimCatterick, GM - Key Accounts, PD Ports; Simon Coppen, Burges Salmon. 01543 420 121 www. deker .co.uk VEHICLE FINANCE AND LEASING