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Colas to Reduce Class 56 Usage

Rail Quest

Rail Quest

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There was a previous speculative thread about the future of Colas 56 fleet: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/colas-class-56-issues-possible-future.270021/

However, after already withdrawing a few members of the fleet, Rail Magazine are reporting that Colas have now confirmed that:
Colas Rail has stood down two of its ten Class 56s from traffic (56087/096), and has confirmed that the fleet is likely to be progressively run down this year.
Click to expand...
Source: https://www.railmagazine.com/news/f...ention-to-reduce-use-of-class-56s-during-2025
[Link directs to Rail Magazine article discussing running down of Class 56 fleet]

This thread can be for tracking the status of the fleet as their usage declines and, presumably, further withdrawals take place.
LocomotiveStatus
56049In Service, Destined for Ghana
56051In Service, Destined for Ghana
56078Destined for Ghana
56087Off lease
56090SRPS
56094Destined for Ghana
56096Off lease
56105SRPS
56113Off lease
56302Destined for Ghana
 
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D365

D365

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Loss of bitumen traffic and also coming up to F exams, I believe?

As per the speculative thread, 087 is no surprise, it’s been stopped for several years now.

Do we use the speculative thread to speculate on their future?
 
Western 52

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They were using these locos on the Baglan Bay to Chirk timber trains, but these don't seem to have run for a while.
 
trainmania100

trainmania100

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Seems the 56 on halling wasn't very long lived. I guess it was while the 66s were on RHTT up north.
 
70013NE

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Just got some news regarding the 56s, apparently I've got some news that the Colas deals with DRS and Freightliner to replace the 56s have fallen through, and that Colas will be doing exams and restoring every 56 likely except 087.
 
L

l3mm

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Apparently, Colas have been reducing their 56 usage or at least intending to, and last year I saw a 56 on the North Wales Coastline RHTT out of Coleham LMD. My question, will they still run them, and how many 56s are going into storage for the time being?
 
cj_1985

cj_1985

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I don't think that's publicly known yet... Will probably depend on whether GBRf return any of their 66701-66722 batch to Beacon once the 99s are in traffic...
 
L

l3mm

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are they still being stored in coleham?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

70013NE said:
Just got some news regarding the 56s, apparently I've got some news that the Colas deals with DRS and Freightliner to replace the 56s have fallen through, and that Colas will be doing exams and restoring every 56 likely except 087.
Click to expand...
phew
 
43096

43096

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70013NE said:
Just got some news regarding the 56s, apparently I've got some news that the Colas deals with DRS and Freightliner to replace the 56s have fallen through, and that Colas will be doing exams and restoring every 56 likely except 087.
Click to expand...

l3mm said:
phew
Click to expand...
You have quoted a post from last May. Since then Colas have taken four 66s on longer-term hire from Heavy Haul, so the post is very much out of date.
 
BillStampy

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Western 52 said:
They were using these locos on the Baglan Bay to Chirk timber trains, but these don't seem to have run for a while.
Click to expand...
I understand this post is from last year, but yes, the Baglan Bay flow finished last year. As for if it'll ever return is not for me to know but the 56s saw very regular use on that flow.

That said, where do Colas use their 56s now (if any?) and if they are in use how many are serviceable currently?
 
XCTurbostar

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Only 56049 and 56051 are serviceable with all others either on Exam, Repair or awaiting transfer.
 
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CDM Transport

CDM Transport

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yorkshirerail said:
I’ve heard that 049 and 051 have now officially been stood down today. Anyone able to confirm if this true
Click to expand...
Incorrect. They are at Doncaster having moved there today. They should be booked on engineers this weekend unless some other Colas locos move to Donny.
 
Y

yorkshirerail

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CDM Transport said:
Incorrect. They are at Doncaster having moved there today. They should be booked on engineers this weekend unless some other Colas locos move to Donny.
Click to expand...
Thanks for correcting me on that. Will have to try and get out for them if they are out and about this weekend.
 
XCTurbostar

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DJGREW999 said:
they are schedule to work an engineers train tonight off Toton
Click to expand...
Should work 6C54

Realtime Trains | 6C54 1909 Toton North Yard to Hendon | 28/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 6C54 1909 departure from Toton North Yard to Hendon on 28/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then 6C54 back

Realtime Trains | 6C54 0539 St Pancras International to Toton North Yard | 29/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 6C54 0539 departure from St Pancras International to Toton North Yard on 29/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I suspect it will then run 6B01

Realtime Trains | 6B01 2205½ Toton North Yard to Derby | 02/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 6B01 2205½ departure from Toton North Yard to Derby on 02/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then 6B01 back

Realtime Trains | 6B01 0700 St.Mary's South Junction to Toton North Yard | 03/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 6B01 0700 departure from St.Mary's South Junction to Toton North Yard on 03/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is also another pair of 6C54s to Attenborough Jn later next week.

It should also be noted that both are nearly out of hours.
 
CDM Transport

CDM Transport

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There are also multiple engineers workings out of Doncaster Yard on Saturday, so there will need to be at least 2x Colas locos on Donny by Saturday. 66847 will be one of them once it finishes 6S31 / 6E36 for the week.

56105 was running on 37025s test run for drawbacks, it has also been rumored that the 56s will be returning for this RHTT season.
 
L

l3mm

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XCTurbostar said:
Should work 6C54

Realtime Trains | 6C54 1909 Toton North Yard to Hendon | 28/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 6C54 1909 departure from Toton North Yard to Hendon on 28/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then 6C54 back

Realtime Trains | 6C54 0539 St Pancras International to Toton North Yard | 29/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 6C54 0539 departure from St Pancras International to Toton North Yard on 29/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I suspect it will then run 6B01

Realtime Trains | 6B01 2205½ Toton North Yard to Derby | 02/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 6B01 2205½ departure from Toton North Yard to Derby on 02/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then 6B01 back

Realtime Trains | 6B01 0700 St.Mary's South Junction to Toton North Yard | 03/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 6B01 0700 departure from St.Mary's South Junction to Toton North Yard on 03/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is also another pair of 6C54s to Attenborough Jn later next week.

It should also be noted that both are nearly out of hours.
Click to expand...
thank you
 
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