The first of 10 Stadler Class 88 Eurodual UK locomotives for leasing firm Beacon Rail have been presented at InnoTrans.

The locomotives are fitted with ABB electric and Caterpillar diesel traction equipment and will be operated by open access freight and charter operator Direct Rail Services.

The 160 km/h ‘BoBo’ is based on the successful 2,800 kW Class 68 Eurolight diesel locomotive and will be used for passenger and freight work, offering 4 MW of traction power under 25 kV 50 Hz supply plus a 708kW diesel powerpack for use on non-electrified lines.

The locomotive has been built in Stadler’s recently acquired plant in Valencia and has been certified ahead of schedule after two months of testing at the Velim test circuit in the Czech Republic.

It complies with European TSI and UK national standards while fitting the narrower UK loading gauge and Stadler says that commercial operation is due to begin ‘soon’.

The Class 88 is built using a modular approach and shares several common design elements with the Eurodual family that Stadler is offering for the wider European market.

The design is available as four or six axle variants for all loading gauges and supply voltages, rated at up to 7 MW with a maximum speed of 200 km/h under electric operation.

Also available will be Different diesel engine modules with EU Stage IIIB compliance and rated at up to 3 000 kW.

Depending on the configuration, axleloads can range from 18 to 22·5 tonnes. A prototype is under construction and tests will start in spring 2017. Stadler expects to focus first on gaining type approval for France, Spain, Germany and Scandinavia.

In May, Beacon Rail Leasing announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Ascendos Rail Leasing from Everest Babcock & Brown Opportunities Fund, BOSSAF Rail and the BBSFF EU Rail Lessor subsidiary of Singapore-listed Global Investments.