GB Railfreight (GBRf) has unveiled its new Class 99 locomotives at its Peterborough headquarters, marking a major step towards sustainable freight.
The £150 million investment in hybrid locomotives will cut emissions by more than 50% on a typical journey.
Running on both electricity and renewable fuels, the Class 99 fleet offers a low-carbon alternative to diesel and is expected to transform freight movement across the country.
Once testing is complete, the locomotives will enter commercial service this winter.
Manufactured by Stadler in Valencia, the locomotives are designed to carry a wide range of materials including construction goods, fuel, food, clothing and homeware.
Each freight train operated by GBRf removes up to 129 HGVs from UK roads, cutting congestion and carbon emissions.
Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, attended the launch and praised the initiative: “This £150m private sector investment shows real confidence in rail freight. The Class 99s will play a vital role in decarbonising our supply chains and supporting growth nationwide.”
John Smith, CEO of GBRf, added: “The Class 99 sets a new standard for performance and sustainability. It’s a major leap forward for British rail freight and a crucial step toward our net zero ambitions.”
The new locomotives support GBRf’s long-term strategy to modernise freight services. The company operates over 1,000 freight movements a week and contributes £2.5 billion annually to the UK economy—90% of which is felt outside London and the South East.
Key Class 99 features include:
- Hybrid power for maximum flexibility across electric and non-electric lines.
- Enhanced performance with faster acceleration and reduced downtime.
- Green credentials to help businesses hit emissions targets.
The Peterborough launch brought together government, industry and logistics leaders to celebrate what many are calling the future of freight transport.
GB Railfreight unveils hybrid fleet to power green future appeared first on Energy Live News.