British Rail Class 768

British Rail Class 768
319010 was the donor unit for 768001
ManufacturerBREL (as 319)
Brush Traction (as 768)
Built atYork Carriage Works (as 319)
Loughborough (as 768)
Family nameBR Second Generation (Mark 3)
Constructed2020 - (as 768)
1987 - 1988, 1990 (as 319)
Number under construction8 units
Number built2 units
Formation4 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers768001 - 768010
OwnersPorterbrook
OperatorsRail Operations Group
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length
  • 19.83 m (65 ft 1 in) (DTCO, DTSO)
  • 19.92 m (65 ft 4 in) (MSO, TSOL)[1]
Width2.82 m (9 ft 3 in)[1]
Height3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)[1]
Maximum speed100 mph (161 km/h)
Prime mover(s)MAN D2876 (one per two cars)
Engine type12.8-litre turbo-diesel
Cylinder count6
Power output523 hp (390 kW) per engine
Transmissionoriginal traction motors via ABB alternator
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)
Coupling systemTightlock
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 768 is a class of bi-mode multiple unit being converted from Class 319 passenger trains by Brush Traction and Wabtec to carry parcels.

History

In December 2018, Rail Operations Group (ROG) ordered two Class 769s that were in the process of being developed by Brush Traction from redundant Class 319s, owned by rolling stock company (ROSCO) Porterbrook.[2] However unlike the Class 769s that remained as passenger trains, ROG's Orion High Speed Trains subsidiary intends to operate them as parcel carriers from London Liverpool Street to London Gateway.[3][4]

In February 2020, a further three were ordered to allow services to be introduced the Midlands to Scotland via the West Coast Main Line.[5] A further five has since been ordered. Originally to be classified as Class 769/5s, they were reclassified as the Class 768 before the first unit was completed.[6]

The first units received their traction conversions at Brush Traction, Loughborough, while the latter examples will be completed by Wabtec at Doncaster Works. They then move to Eastleigh Works where Arlington Fleet Services fit out the interiors and fit roller doors to carry pallets, bulk items and parcel cages.[6]

The units will operate in fixed formations of four (capable of running in multiples) at up to 100 mph. Unlike conventional rail freight, this provides direct access to city centres, with onward distribution from stations to be by van or bicycle courier. A demonstration from London Euston took place on 7 July 2021.[2][7]

Fleet list

Number Rebuilt from Notes
768001[8] 319010[8] originally numbered 769501[6]
768002 319009[9] originally numbered 769502
768003
768004
768005
768006
768007
768008
768009
768010

References

  1. ^ a b c Class 319 Electric Multiple Unit (PDF) (A ed.). Porterbrook. August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b Cuenca, Oliver (23 February 2021). "Rail Operations UK to launch Orion logistics service in April". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Faster rolling stock identified as key to shifting logistics traffic onto rail". Rail Magazine. No. 868. Bauer Media Group. 19 December 2018. p. 8.
  4. ^ "Bi-modes for ROG postal trains". Rail Express. No. 273. February 2019. p. 13.
  5. ^ "ROG targets extra Flexs for logistics traffic". Rail Magazine. No. 899. February 2020. p. 28.
  6. ^ a b c "Anglo-Scottish Debut for Orion". Modern Railways. No. 875. August 2021. p. 21.
  7. ^ Streeter, Tony (28 July 2021). "Orion's parcels multiple unit shown off at Euston". Rail Magazine. No. 936. Bauer Media Group. pp. 8–9.
  8. ^ a b "Class 768 moved". News In Brief. Rail Magazine. No. 997. 29 November 2023. p. 25.
  9. ^ "Orion Trial in Euston Station". 7 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.