GBRf Class 99 - 30 locomotives now ordered

[Spaceship323]

Is there any gen yet on what loco is picking them up (0Q33 Leicester - Portbury) or is it too early? TIA

Probably 57305, that's just got into the L.I.P. it won't be a 47 this time I'm afraid

 

[Obar123]

Another set of paths from Peterborough to Ipswich on Friday. Then down to Temple Mills loop on Fiday night/Saturday.

 

[802020]

Probably 57305, that's just got into the L.I.P. it won't be a 47 this time I'm afraid

Thank you.

Better than a 66 i guess

 

[Paul AC]

Perhaps a short trip to Stansted gauge in Spain and a tow to Leicester via the tunnel would have made more sense. Especially with the number involved for delivery.

The connection to the Valencia - Barcelona main line at the Stadler Albuixech works has been broad gauge only until relatively recently - I noted it was dual gauge when I went past in late January 2026. However the dual gauge only extends to Valencia the moment, there's a huge gap for standard gauge traffic on the line towards Barcelona (you can get from Valencia to Barcelona on standard gauge but its a very long way around on a route that normally sees only passenger traffic). Then there's the problem that getting 'foreign' locos across France is fraught with difficulties. So, it's easiest to put the loco on a low loader at the works then road it to Barcelona for a ship to the UK.

 

[802020]

Hearing tomorrow’s move won’t run and the 99s will instead go up next week.
Not 100%

 

[nigelsporne]

WNXX seems to say the 25th.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

GBRF confirmed in a post on LinkedIn today that 99005 and 99006 arrived at Portbury yesterday - Thursday 19th February.



Images show locomotives 99005 and 99006 on Portbury docks

 

[99009]

4Q04 Peterborough - Ipswich is at a stand close to Platform 2 at Stowmarket and has been for 30 minutes. The 99's might have failed. 4L14 Doncaster Iport - Felixstowe has just gone around 4Q04 through Platform 1.

4Q04:

Realtime Trains | 4Q04 1807 Peterborough North Yd Gbrf to Ipswich Reception Gbrf | 20/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 4Q04 1807 departure from Peterborough North Yd Gbrf to Ipswich Reception Gbrf on 20/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[800001]

4Q04 Peterborough - Ipswich is at a stand close to Platform 2 at Stowmarket and has been for 30 minutes. The 99's might have failed. 4L14 Doncaster Iport - Felixstowe has just gone around 4Q04 through Platform 1.

4Q04:

Realtime Trains | 4Q04 1807 Peterborough North Yd Gbrf to Ipswich Reception Gbrf | 20/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 4Q04 1807 departure from Peterborough North Yd Gbrf to Ipswich Reception Gbrf on 20/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Decent/handy place to 'fail' if that is the case

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Feb 2026 ==

4Q04 Peterborough - Ipswich is at a stand close to Platform 2 at Stowmarket and has been for 30 minutes. The 99's might have failed. 4L14 Doncaster Iport - Felixstowe has just gone around 4Q04 through Platform 1.

4Q04:

Realtime Trains | 4Q04 1807 Peterborough North Yd Gbrf to Ipswich Reception Gbrf | 20/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 4Q04 1807 departure from Peterborough North Yd Gbrf to Ipswich Reception Gbrf on 20/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

From a question asking if there is a problem on the '
(Class 99 Locomotive Group (CL99LG)' the following answer was given about 4Q04 at Stowmarket:-

yes…train will follow last passenger

 

[Intercity_225]

Deleted - didn't realise it's only going to Ipswich.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Is this the last passenger train on the Felixstowe branch or on the Great Eastern Mainline aswell?

Given it is going to Ipswitch not Felixstowe, presumably the Great Eastern Mainline.
The last Southbound train from Stowmarket is at 23:48, the last Northbound is at 00:57 but the train needs to use the Southbound.

Everything has been diverting via platform 2.

 

[robert west]

Given it is going to Ipswitch not Felixstowe, presumably the Great Eastern Mainline.
The last Southbound train from Stowmarket is at 23:48, the last Northbound is at 00:57 but the train needs to use the Southbound.

Everything has been diverting via platform 2.

on move 188 mins late

 

[99009]

Just been watching the Traksy map. 4Q04 didn't enter the sidings at Ipswich as scheduled and has instead gone directly to Platform 2 at Ipswich where the headcode has changed to the next working; 4Q18 Ipswich Reception Sidings - Temple Mills Loop. That would suggest whatever the problem was has been fixed as 4Q18 has now departed Ipswich slightly early. I'll edit tonight's workings into this post in about 30 minutes unless someone beats me to it.

4Q18 Ipswich - Temple Mills Loop:

Realtime Trains | 4Q18 2340 Ipswich S.S. to Temple Mills Loop | 20/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 4Q18 2340 departure from Ipswich S.S. to Temple Mills Loop on 20/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

4Z25 Temple Mills Loop - Ipswich:

Realtime Trains | 4Z25 0225 Temple Mills Loop to Ipswich Reception Gbrf | 21/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 4Z25 0225 departure from Temple Mills Loop to Ipswich Reception Gbrf on 21/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

4Q19 Ipswich - Temple Mills Loop:

Realtime Trains | 4Q19 0417 Ipswich Reception Gbrf to Temple Mills Loop | 21/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 4Q19 0417 departure from Ipswich Reception Gbrf to Temple Mills Loop on 21/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And then a new route for the 99's as they will return to Peterborough light engine as 0Q19 via Tottenham Hale, Broxbourne, Harlow Town, Audley End and Cambridge, possibly in daylight if on time or delayed:

Realtime Trains | 0Q19 0635 Temple Mills Loop to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf | 21/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q19 0635 departure from Temple Mills Loop to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf on 21/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Finally, back home to base at Leicester in the morning as 0Q24, however this might not run, or might just be one of the 99's, as further paths have appeared based off of Peterborough on Monday:

Realtime Trains | 0Q24 1031 Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Leicester L.I.P. | 21/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q24 1031 departure from Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Leicester L.I.P. on 21/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Looks like the consist had quite a bit of delay throughout the night, but nothing enough to stop them testing.

 

[saismee]

Saw 4Q19 this morning at Ipswich, wasn't expecting a freight locomotive where the first Cambridge normally is in 2B! Would've gotten some pictures but my taxi was late (and I didn't expect anything special today).

Will be exciting to see them enter service on their own. I wonder how loud they are compared to 66s when on diesel. Supervisor at Ipswich was a bit worried they wouldn't clear out before passenger service started

 

[800001]

Do we know why it sat at Stowmarket for so long blocking one line?

 

[Intercity_225]

Do we know why it sat at Stowmarket for so long blocking one line?

Apparently it was too long to fit in Ipswich yard according to Anglia Gen.

 

[800001]

Apparently it was too long to fit in Ipswich yard according to Anglia Gen.

If so that's a silly mistake to make.

 

[99009]

Looks like the consist had quite a bit of delay throughout the night, but nothing enough to stop them testing.

Watched it all night and can confirm this was because a) the run round in Temple Mills loop via Platform 11 at Stratford seemed to take a bit longer than expected and b) 4Z25 got held up outside Ipswich because 4L77 was sat in the platform. Eventually 4Z25 was put into the middle road through Ipswich station and then into Ipswich yard.

I have no idea what loco led 4Z25 or 4Q19. I think it's the 99's (guessing 99001) leading 66769 on 0Q19 back to Peterborough which has just arrived at Ely 31 early.

 

[87015]

If so that's a silly mistake to make.

Same as last week

 

[ac6000cw]

I think it's the 99's (guessing 99001) leading 66769 on 0Q19 back to Peterborough which has just arrived at Ely 31 early.

It's now departed Ely 30 mins early, following 4E81 towards Peterborough.

 

[Rail Quest]

I wonder how loud they are compared to 66s when on diesel.

They definitely aren't quiet when under power! Conveniently, someone's posted a great clip of 002 thrashing on diesel whilst working 4Z25 last night.

[URL directs to YouTube video of Class 99 thrashing on diesel through Kelvedon]

 

[Korot]

Does anyone know the reason the 99's run in diesel under wires during these tests?

 

[Nym]

Not homogenised for that type of OLE yet perhaps?
Or running on Diesel is cheaper.

 

[43096]

Not homogenised for that type of OLE yet perhaps?
Or running on Diesel is cheaper.

Or understanding the performance on diesel over that route.

 

[92002]

Not homogenised for that type of OLE yet perhaps?
Or running on Diesel is cheaper.

Perhaps as simple as testing the capabilities of the diesel mode.

 

[saismee]

Does anyone know the reason the 99's run in diesel under wires during these tests?

Didn't hear any diesel today, just the usual Stadler electric sounds.

 

[172007]

Perhaps as simple as testing the capabilities of the diesel mode.

Thats my thinking. If there is serious intention to use these loco's on these routes and loads then you want to know they will perform successfully on both power modes.

 

[Devonman2014]

Does anyone know if 99005 & 99006 can be seen in portbury docks ?

Passing Bristol tomorrow and can pop in …

 

[99009]

Right then, time to post a few updates on various things.

Firstly, yes, videos show both electric and diesel power were being tested last night.

Secondly, for anyone interested in the wagon data who hasn't seen a video, 4Q04, 4Q18, 4Z25 and 4Q19 last night were all 37 wagons with 23 containers. The first 14 wagons on 4Q04, 4Q18 and 4Q19 (and therefore the last 14 on 4Z25) were empty.

Thirdly, 99001 and 99002 remain at Peterborough as 0Q24 didn't run. Can anyone please confirm that RTT is correct in showing that tonight 99003 has joined them and that it worked 0Q25 Leicester - Peterborough linked below?

0Q25 from earlier (99003's first mainline run in 2026 if ID can be confirmed):

Realtime Trains | 0Q25 1925 Leicester L.I.P. to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf | 21/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q25 1925 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf on 21/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And finally, plans for this coming week starting on Monday.

99004 (IF it runs as it's the only 99 at Leicester) will work this to Northampton Gateway:

Realtime Trains | 0Q27 0730 Leicester L.I.P. to Northampton Gateway Gbrf | 23/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q27 0730 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Northampton Gateway Gbrf on 23/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Also, more light engine runs are planned between Peterborough and Doncaster next week and there's a Peterborough - Leicester move on Monday, but I don't have the time to list all the paths, if someone else wants to you're more than welcome.

That said, whichever 99 (or 99's) work those light engine moves to Doncaster should also work these all week. It's the usual Network Rail departmental service between Doncaster and Whitemoor (usually 6L84 and 6E04) recoded as 6Q84 and 6Q04.

6Q84 Doncaster Decoy - Whitemoor via the ECML:

Realtime Trains | 6Q84 2059 Doncaster Up Decoy to Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf | 23/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 6Q84 2059 departure from Doncaster Up Decoy to Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf on 23/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

6Q04 Whitemoor - Doncaster Decoy via Spalding + Lincoln Central:

Realtime Trains | 6Q04 0213 Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf to Doncaster Up Decoy | 24/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 6Q04 0213 departure from Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf to Doncaster Up Decoy on 24/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk