RHTT Season 2026

[CDM Transport]

Hello all,
Just wanted to start another thread for this year's RHTT season, as locos will start arriving at York to pick up sets for different depots soon.

My main questions are, are there any changes to the operators and traction being used this year? Any updates would be great.

 

[Forty29]

I saw a recruitment 'advert' for seasonal drivers a few weeks ago from l think Colas and also l recall Scotland(?) so presumably for RHTT.
Maybe wrong about Scotland do they have many trips?

 

[CDM Transport]

Maybe wrong about Scotland do they have many trips?

I believe there is a Scotland Central belt RHTT diagram ran by Colas, may be for that diagram.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jul 2026 ==

There are Scotland route learning paths for 56049 that cover the Carstairs based usual 37 diagram... wondering if the 56s are to take over from the 37s instead?

 

[Amos390]

Last year the East Mids RHTT was covered by GBRf using DB sheds from Toton, hoping they won’t do the same again but it’s most likely.

Did also get to look at the grids at Rectory Jn yesterday which all seemed to be operational and being prepared for RHTT workings, with 56105, 090, 078 ready queued up outside the shed behind the Europhoenix locos, 56096 was in the shed. There was also one more at the back of the shed with 37069, however that will not be used seen as it was missing windows and side panels, no sight of 56113 but it may have been behind other stuff in the shed.

Finally, with Europhonix ceasing mainline operations and going to a spot-hire group, what do you think the chances some of their 37s are picked up for RHTT, it seems a long shot at first but again, why not put them to use?

 

[Lewis LJ]

I believe there is a Scotland Central belt RHTT diagram ran by Colas, may be for that diagram.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jul 2026 ==

There are Scotland route learning paths for 56049 that cover the Carstairs based usual 37 diagram... wondering if the 56s are to take over from the 37s instead?

tbf last year 56049 was route learning around Yorkshire and Humberside and we still ended up getting 66s, Colas were the biggest troll last year running shakedown runs from Carstairs using 66s and then switching to 37s before the main season started.

 

[Forty29]

Rumours about the ex Chiltern class 68's being used for RHTT for Colas this year currently on exam's at Crewe.

 

[Class73Electro]

Did I see on the 99 thread that the 99s may be used?

 

[Freightmaster]

Did I see on the 99 thread that the 99s may be used?

Yes - it's a useful way to get drivers trained up on them.

 

[Intercity_225]

So is it still only GBRF & Colas doing RHTT circuits this year aswell?

 

[43367]

Saw some blue RHTT wagons in Peterborough yard, north of the GBrF depot yesterday. Presumably for staff familiarisation prior to the start of this years season in a few months. ??

 

[99009]

So is it still only GBRF & Colas doing RHTT circuits this year aswell?

Yes, only GBRF and Colas operate the RHTT circuits. They have the contract for this from Network Rail until at least 2030. So the RHTT season this year and at least the next 4 after this one will all be GBRF and Colas operated.

 

[Amos390]

Another question that I’m not sure whether it fits into this thread all to well, but cannot think of another one it’ll fit into, if Colas take a handful of their 37s out of RTC in Derby for RHTT, will they need to hire in a loco or 2 from LSL/another operator (maybe Europhoenix) to boost their Test Train fleet back to full (like they did with Flopsie last year)?

 

[CDM Transport]

Another question that I’m not sure whether it fits into this thread all to well, but cannot think of another one it’ll fit into, if Colas take a handful of their 37s out of RTC in Derby for RHTT, will they need to hire in a loco or 2 from LSL/another operator (maybe Europhoenix) to boost their Test Train fleet back to full (like they did with Flopsie last year)?

They'll probably hire in at least 3x 37s, on top of the 3 they already hire, usually they start with the Switelsky standby locos such as 37607 & 37610. If they need more locos they will hire whatever is cheapest I assume.

 

[Loadhaul60059]

Is it right that the GBRf 60's will be used on some of the trains this year?

 

[CR165022]

Will GBRf be hiring in the tripcock fitted 66s from Freightliner for the Chiltern circuit again this year? Or will some of their own locos be fitted?

 

[Lewis LJ]

Will GBRf be hiring in the tripcock fitted 66s from Freightliner for the Chiltern circuit again this year? Or will some of their own locos be fitted?

well as we know from last year the idea was hired in Tripcock fitted class 20s, until Network Rail said "you can't do that". likely the FL 66s again.

 

[Freightmaster]

Is it right that the GBRf 60's will be used on some of the trains this year?

No - if they are used, the 60s will go back on their old diagrams (Yorkshire stone and/or Tyne Dock biomass),
which will release 66s to work RHTT circuits. Add in a few 99s and the 57s in Devon/Cornwall and GBRf should
be able to cover most of their RHTT contracts without the huge cost of hiring in 66s from DB.

 

[CDM Transport]

Do we know what diagrams the Colas hired in 68s are going to do? I have been told that its the 3J77/78 Middlesborough / Nunthorpe diagram, although this could be incorrect.

 

[Amos390]

No - if they are used, the 60s will go back on their old diagrams (Yorkshire stone and/or Tyne Dock biomass),
which will release 66s to work RHTT circuits. Add in a few 99s and the 57s in Devon/Cornwall and GBRf should
be able to cover most of their RHTT contracts without the huge cost of hiring in 66s from DB.

If the 99s were to be used, what region would they be on? I am thinking that as they’re based in Leicester they can do the Toton runs, however they could also go to Peterborough to do those runs too.

 

[Loadhaul60059]

No - if they are used, the 60s will go back on their old diagrams (Yorkshire stone and/or Tyne Dock biomass),
which will release 66s to work RHTT circuits. Add in a few 99s and the 57s in Devon/Cornwall and GBRf should
be able to cover most of their RHTT contracts without the huge cost of hiring in 66s from DB.

Ah, interesting, thanks for the clarification!

 

[43096]

well as we know from last year the idea was hired in Tripcock fitted class 20s, until Network Rail said "you can't do that". likely the FL 66s again.

But things are rather different now as Freightliner is split off and the three locos are part of the Freightiner (as opposed to HHR) fleet. So no guarantee they could be released.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I understand GBRf are fitting a number of 66s with tripcocks this year - the sub-hire last year was largely a last minute solution after having the rug pulled out from under them with the use of 20s.

 

[_toommm_]

Why did Network Rail at the last minute decide 20s aren't suitable?

 

[Freightmaster]

Why did Network Rail at the last minute decide 20s aren't suitable?

Using 60 year old locos day in day out on an intensive 18 hour freight diagram which uses
the busy Aynho Junction to Birmingham main line? I can certainly see why Network Rail
said that was a non-starter!

The most obvious solution would be for GBRf to add the necessary trip cock kit to three of
their own 66s to save on the enormous cost of hiring in locos from Heavy Haul but as far
as I am aware, they have decided not to do that for some reason?

 

[Lewis LJ]

Colas route learners appeared to have started in South Yorkshire, 70817 ran 0Z38 yesterday and 0Z57 Today from Donny To Donny via Chesterfield, Rotherham and Sheffield

 

[CDM Transport]

56049 thundering about dragging RHTT wagons from York for the Carlisle diagram, working 6Z56 to Carlisle New Yard.

 

[HST125Scorton]

Carlisle RHTT Wagons for this season as follows; I think two FEAs go North to Scotland for an RHTT, leaving 2 FEA set for 3J77/78 and 3 FEA for 3J11.

642034 FEA
642037 FEA
642008 FEA
642006 FEA
642022 FEA
642023 FEA
642026 FEA

 

[47286Dan]

Also 66106 has worked from York with 5 RHTT wagons in its consist

66106 WBAT KLONDKSDG 166D06CL06 C * DON UPDCY N

642017, 642015, 642005, 642002, 642001

Dan

 

[Amos390]

Have the Toton wagons moved in yet and if not, is there a schedule for them to do so?

 

[HST125Scorton]

70802 moved FEAs 642023 & 642026 today under 6Z58 0731 Carlisle N.Y. to Carstairs C.E.

That leaves the following FEAs for 3J11, 3J77/78;
642034, 642037, 642008, 642006 & 642022

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==

66848 moving the following RHTT sets on 6W49 1010 York Thrall to Swindon Transfer today (13/08)

FEAs - 642046 & 642025.
FRAs - 613107, 613104, 613106, 613108, 613112, 613109, 613103 & 613102.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2026 ==

70812 is currently moving RHTT sets on 6S31 0636 Doncaster Up Decoy to Millerhill S.S. today (14/08)
FEAs - 642001, 642002, 642005, 642015 & 642017.