Direct Rail Services expects to place an order for ten brand new mixed traffic diesel locomotives by March next year.

Speaking to RAIL at the Crewe Gresty Bridge open day on July 21, Managing Director Debbie Francis explained that DRS has progressed through analysis of pre-qualification submissions for ten new mixed traffic diesel locomotives that were the subject of an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Union last year.

She was tight-lipped about who will be invited to tender for the contract, but this next stage of the process will take place later this year with a contract expected to be awarded by March.

The fleet additions will primarily be for freight and nuclear traffic. Like 68033/034, they will be owned by DRS and not leased from Beacon.

The new locomotives will lead to a reduced need for heritage diesels (Classes 20, ‘37’ and ‘57’), although no decision has been taken on what impact this will have on the older locomotives.