THE FIRST tri-mode Class 93 arrived at Harry Needle Railroad Company’s Worksop depot on July 1.
Owned by Rail Operations Assets Ltd, 93001 is the first of an initial batch of 10 Class 93s built by Stadler in Valencia, Spain. Following factory testing, it was moved by ship to Portbury Docks in Bristol, where it arrived on June 28 before being taken by road to the HNRC depot. Industry stakeholders have been visiting the Class 93 while initial training is conducted on the locomotive.
The Class 93s are part of the Stadler EuroDual platform. They have a 110mph maximum speed and feature electric, diesel and battery power, weigh 86 tonnes and have a route availability of seven.
On electric power they can provide a nominal electric power of 4MW via the overhead wires (5400hp), which increases to 4.6MW via ‘boost’ mode (6168hp). A Class 93 offers 900 kW (1200hp) on its diesel engine and 400 kW (536hp) via its two 200 kW battery traction packs. There is a diesel and battery hybrid mode offering a combined 1300 kW (1700hp).
Each Class 93 is fitted with a Stage V, 900 kW, C32 Caterpillar engine. The C32 is a 12-cylinder turbocharged, four-stroke engine with a mechanical electric unit injection. It is rated at 900 kW at 1800rpm. The fuel tank fitted to the Class 93 can hold 3600 litres.
The battery traction packs are an energy storage system that comprises two lithium-titanate oxide traction battery packages. These can be charged via the overhead line electrification or from the diesel engine. The locomotives are fitted with regenerative braking and electric train supply.
The Class 93s are also equipped with various coupling systems.
Currently, 93001 is unable to operate in this country until the testing of 93002 has been completed at the Faurei test track in Romania. This is expected to be completed in August, and it is at that point when the processes required for 93s to operate in Britain should be approved. There is a possibility that 93001 could move to the Great Central Railway heritage line in Loughborough by road for further training and testing purposes.
ROAL is part of the Rail Operations (UK) Ltd group and sits alongside Rail Operations Group in the b
