GBRf Class 99 - 30 locomotives now ordered

[Spartacus]

A 99 might be having another run out to Bedford and back today as this schedule has suddenly appeared this morning:

0Q21 Leicester - Leicester via Bedford:

Realtime Trains | 0Q21 0925 Leicester L.I.P. to Leicester L.I.P. | 08/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q21 0925 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Leicester L.I.P. on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

99005 from reports.

 

[47286Dan]

A 99 might be having another run out to Bedford and back today as this schedule has suddenly appeared this morning:

0Q21 Leicester - Leicester via Bedford:

Realtime Trains | 0Q21 0925 Leicester L.I.P. to Leicester L.I.P. | 08/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q21 0925 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Leicester L.I.P. on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

99005 from reports.

99001 MBEL LESTER SD 450Q211P08 4 * LESTER SD B
99005 MBEL LESTER SD 450Q211P08 4 * LESTER SD B

Dan

 

[Dood75]

All 6 seen yesterday - 2 and 6 by the running lines on arrival in to Leicester from the north, 004 inside (doors were open yesterday), 003 outside to the right of the shed as viewed from the station and 001 and 005 arriving back from Bedford after their jollies on 0Q21

 

[99009]

A 99 (or 99's) might be going to Peterborough this afternoon. If anyone sees it and knows which one it is please post here, as the loco ID doesn't always show on VSTP schedules on RTT, like this one:

0Q99 Leicester - Peterborough:

Realtime Trains | 0Q99 1335 Leicester L.I.P. to Peterborough North Yd Gbrf | 10/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q99 1335 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Peterborough North Yd Gbrf on 10/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A 99 (or 99's) might be going to Peterborough this afternoon. If anyone sees it and knows which one it is please post here, as the loco ID doesn't always show on VSTP schedules on RTT, like this one:

0Q99 Leicester - Peterborough:

Realtime Trains | 0Q99 1335 Leicester L.I.P. to Peterborough North Yd Gbrf | 10/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q99 1335 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Peterborough North Yd Gbrf on 10/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

99 001 + 99 003, I belive.

 

[jazzy]

Does anybody know when more are due to arrive in the country?

April was the answer given to my question. Does anyone know if some are on their way?

 

[cj_1985]

April was the answer given to my question. Does anyone know if some are on their way?

Last mention I've seen about the next delivery was in Railways Illustrated, which stated mid April for 007/008

 

[99009]

Does anyone know if a 99 was involved in this working yesterday and if it was solo or hauled by another loco please? 0R99 Leicester - Loughborough Works is the working in question.

0R99:

Realtime Trains | 0R99 0941 Leicester L.I.P. to Loughborough Brush | 13/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0R99 0941 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Loughborough Brush on 13/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Does anyone know if a 99 was involved in this working yesterday and if it was solo or hauled by another loco please? 0R99 Leicester - Loughborough Works is the working in question.

0R99:

Realtime Trains | 0R99 0941 Leicester L.I.P. to Loughborough Brush | 13/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0R99 0941 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Loughborough Brush on 13/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

That was 68028.

 

[99009]

That was 68028.

Thank you. For anyone interested then, as far as I know current locations of 99001-99006 are...

99001 - Peterborough since 10/04/26
99002 - Leicester since 01/04/26
99003 - Peterborough since 10/04/26
99004 - Leicester since 17/03/26
99005 - Leicester since 08/04/26
99006 - Leicester since 20/03/26

 

[800001]

Does anyone know if a 99 was involved in this working yesterday and if it was solo or hauled by another loco please? 0R99 Leicester - Loughborough Works is the working in question.

0R99:

Realtime Trains | 0R99 0941 Leicester L.I.P. to Loughborough Brush | 13/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0R99 0941 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Loughborough Brush on 13/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I believe anything 99 related would still be a Q headcode

 

[Class15]

Is this going to become a 93 situation? We’re now not all that far from being a year after the first ones arrived…

 

[zwk500]

Is this going to become a 93 situation? We’re now not all that far from being a year after the first ones arrived…

That doesnt feel unusual for type acceptance on NR, even going back a bit.
How long did, say, the first FLIRTs take to get approval?

 

[themiller]

Didn’t GBRf state that they’d not put the 99s into regular service until they had 6 in the country? Perhaps they meant 6 accepted by them.

 

[cj_1985]

Didn’t GBRf state that they’d not put the 66s into regular service until they had 6 in the country? Perhaps they meant 6 accepted by them.

It's always been my understanding that until locos are accepted... they're not not technically the lease Co's property... they would still be the manufacturers, until the acceptance is completed

 

[Wyrleybart]

Didn’t GBRf state that they’d not put the 66s into regular service until they had 6 in the country? Perhaps they meant 6 accepted by them.

In which case, has 99006 been accepted into traffic.
I would expect the the first pair of 99/0 diagrams to be implemented in the next week or two.

 

[CDM Transport]

In which case, has 99006 been accepted into traffic.
I would expect the the first pair of 99/0 diagrams to be implemented in the next week or two.

Tyne Drax workings perhaps?

 

[Class15]

Tyne Drax workings perhaps?

I would expect intermodal but we’ll have to wait and see!

 

[Trainman40083]

I would expect intermodal but we’ll have to wait and see!

I thought GBrF had already advised what they were likely to work.....such as London Gateway

 

[Peter Sarf]

Tyne Drax workings perhaps?

Is that not rather a lot of the route not under the wires so makes a 99 pointless ?.

 

[Nottingham59]

Is that not rather a lot of the route not under the wires so makes a 99 pointless ?.

It doesn't matter how slow a Tyne-Drax working is, except on those parts of the route where there is congestion
and a faster train might get a path in the timetable where a slow working would not.

And that route segment just happens to be the (electrified) ECML.

 

[Class15]

I thought GBrF had already advised what they were likely to work.....such as London Gateway

Indeed - that makes far more sense than Tyne to Drax!

 

[Trainman40083]

Indeed - that makes far more sense than Tyne to Drax!

I tend to think of them as last mile locos for terminals that are not wired. Ideally with container trains, rather than heavy biomass

 

[CDM Transport]

Indeed - that makes far more sense than Tyne to Drax!

It has been said that GBRf intend to use 99s on the Tyne - Drax workings. Not sure its the wisest choice lol.

 

[Spartacus]

I tend to think of them as last mile locos for terminals that are not wired. Ideally with container trains, rather than heavy biomass

Depending on which they use them on there's not always a great difference in tonnage in fairness. During trials I'd think they'd try them on bulk as well as intermodal, but who knows.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I tend to think of them as last mile locos for terminals that are not wired. Ideally with container trains, rather than heavy biomass

Moreso the 93s I would say (for last mile of the wires capability).
For the 99s I think they are capable of more than just last mile given the power of their diesel engine. But I would anticipate their use under the wires being preferable to using a straight diesel under the wires.

Now, as @Nottingham59 says, perhaps a 99 is put to a good use even if the minority of the route is electrified BUT only if that electrified part would benefit from the performance improvement possible (for example on a busy intercity line).

 

[yorkshirerail]

I had heard a rumour a while back that their first route would be the Hunslet Tilcon to Rylstone Tilcon stone workings as that’s under the wires between Neville and Skipton which is most of the journey. Don’t know whether it is true or not though.

 

[alexl92]

Is there any chance of the 99s appearing on the Liverpool - Drax flows via the Calder Valley? Given the fact they've had two 66 failures on that route in April already...

 

[zwk500]

I tend to think of them as last mile locos for terminals that are not wired. Ideally with container trains, rather than heavy biomass

The GWR person interviewed by Green Signals said that they were quite deliberately ordered to be as capable as a Class 66 on the diesel mode. It was one of the justifications for not including battery traction power - to leave enough space for the required size of diesel prime mover.

 

[xotGD]

I had heard a rumour a while back that their first route would be the Hunslet Tilcon to Rylstone Tilcon stone workings as that’s under the wires between Neville and Skipton which is most of the journey. Don’t know whether it is true or not though.

They did list services out of Rylstone as one of the routes they'd be used on.

But no sign of a 99 in Airedale just yet.

If one does come to the area, it could always pop along to the KWVR diesel gala. Just a thought!