These locos are owned by HSBC Rail and are purchased through GBRf for Metronet. Metronet have in fact paid for these locos, If Metronet had a UK mainline operating license they would have been purchased by them direct. The deal through GBRf gives Metronet the operating powers required. Nobody from GBRf was actually present at the off-loading, it was all overseen by Metronet who are the key players for this and the next four 66/7s to be delivered in the late summer.
In terms of use, I think you will see one of two used by GBRf for normal traffic, but Metronet will have to give a green light to non-dedicated operations.
