DB Cargo UK trialled a Class 93 tri-mode locomotive on an intermodal service between Seaforth in Merseyside and Mossend in Glasgow on 10 March. The operator used locomotive 93006 to haul a Peel Ports service in both directions, working with Rail Operations Group and Network Rail as part of a review of its future fleet investment strategy.
Representatives from the train drivers’ union ASLEF also took part to assess the locomotive’s performance in traffic.
The Class 93, manufactured by Stadler in Valencia, is a mixed-traffic locomotive developed from the Class 68 and Class 88 platforms. It operates in four traction modes, combining 25 kV AC electric capability with diesel and battery power.
In electric mode, the locomotive delivers up to 4,000 kW under overhead lines, with an additional 600 kW boost available from the onboard batteries. For non-electrified routes, it is equipped with a Stage V 900 kW diesel engine and two Lithium Titanate Oxide traction battery packs.
The batteries provide a further 400 kW in diesel-battery hybrid mode and can also power the locomotive independently, enabling zero-emission operation without a reduction in tractive effort. Further trials and demonstrations with DB Cargo UK are planned in the coming months.
