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That will be one of the MPVs returning from maintenance.

As far as I'm aware, the issue is that there aren't enough drivers trained up on them to enable four long distance freight services to go over to 99-haulage on a daily basis right now, but it's pretty straightforward to quickly train up a few drivers at Inverness where four 99s can be employed...

Booked to run again tomorrow (Thursday September 24th): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:XTT/2026-09-24/0000-2359?stp=VS

Been with them since the Npower days - no complaints whatsoever here. (I'm currently on their EV tariff which enables me to charge my car for 9p/kWh between midnight and 6am)

Wishful thinking, I'm afraid - overnight freight schedules are often VAR'd due to engineering work, even of the trains in question are not booked to run as it's an automatic process. I've seen nothing to suggest that any of the RHTT diagrams will be starting significantly earlier than they did...

Scottish GBRf drivers are not sufficiently trained up on 99s yet, and won't be until after RHTT season.

They have been running every 2-3 weeks recently, but rarely on the same day of the week. The last four runs have been on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so perhaps the next train will be on a Saturday or Monday?!

Exactly. The sheer scale of the loco-hauled RHTT workings makes them extremely difficult for just two FOCs to resource; when all the RHTTs are fully up and running this time next month, 60 locos (plus spares) will be required on a daily basis, of which 38 locos will be needed for the GBRf...

153385, according to Railcam.

Yes - and most likely a fifth loco as a spare too once the trains start running daily! There simply aren't anywhere enough 66s/69s to cover all the GBRf RHTT diagrams, and using the 99s is a far cheaper option than hiring in several DB/FL 66s, as happened last year.

For clarification, there are two nightly RHTT diagrams from Inverness, so four locos are required.

I've just skim read that PDF and the main thing that strikes me is the absolutely huge amount of work (and no doubt money!) invested to re-fettle the branch for a few overnight freight trains, while just a few miles to the south, repeated calls to double the Felixstowe branch, which handles...

Should be 66106

Most RHTT diagrams don't start running until October, and those which commence in mid-September often only run sporadically until the end of the month. Basically, the RHTT 'season' hasn't really started yet, so trains only run as required at the moment.

66032 according to TOPS:

Yes, but 'YamYamDave' was specifically asking about afternoon services.

Further to the other replies, this is the specific working (1Z73 Machynlleth to Oxford): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U00834/2026-09-16/detailed

This one at 16.37: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L37700/2026-09-17/detailed (previous departure is 11.02; next is 18.37)

I'd say (and I stress it's only a gut feeling at this stage) that the Thames Valley working is the more likely candidate, but they could also work the South wales diagram, or even alternate between the two!

66431 according to Railcam.