en.Wedoany.com Reported - GB Railfreight (GBRf), the UK's largest rail freight operator, has recently brought its Class 99 hybrid freight locomotive into its first commercial service, marking a substantial step forward in the modernization and decarbonization of the nation's rail freight network. The inaugural intermodal freight service, hauled by locomotive No. 99001, has departed from DP World London Gateway, bound for the Maritime Transport Hams Hall rail freight terminal in the West Midlands.

Manufactured by Stadler, the new Class 99 locomotive is designed to reduce emissions by more than half on typical journeys. It can operate directly on electric power on electrified sections and switch to renewable fuel on non-electrified lines, thereby cutting carbon emissions while maintaining access to a broader range of routes across the national network. With approximately 40% of the UK rail network currently electrified, the hybrid solution offers an immediate pathway to reducing freight emissions without waiting for full electrification.

Beyond emission reductions, the improved acceleration performance of the new locomotive helps freight trains integrate more efficiently with passenger services, thereby optimizing rail capacity utilization and supporting economic growth. The UK rail freight industry contributes approximately £2.5 billion (€2.9 billion) annually to the national economy and is part of the government's plan to increase rail freight volumes by 75% by 2050. GB Railfreight, Stadler, Beacon Rail, and Network Rail have collaborated over more than four and a half years of planning, engineering, testing, and coordination to bring the Class 99 into official service.

John Smith, Chief Executive Officer of GB Railfreight, stated: "Four and a half years ago, we set out to bring a locomotive to the UK that would redefine what rail freight can offer. Today, with the first commercial Class 99 service departing from London Gateway to Hams Hall, we have achieved exactly that. The Class 99 combines lower emissions, better performance, and a modern, safer working environment for drivers—a tremendous result of the hard work by the teams at GBRf, Beacon Rail, and Stadler."