Cumbrian Coast work for Anglian-based ‘37’

Usually allocated to passenger trains in East Anglia, Direct Rail Services 37425 Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob has been used recently by Northern Rail on Cumbrian Coast trains.

The Class 37/4 was required because of a shortage of available DRS locomotives following failures.

Two Class 37/4s (plus one spare) are used by Abellio Greater Anglia to top and tail a rake of DRS Mk 2s, while three are needed for Northern Rail, with two in action and one in charge of a recently introduced ‘hot spare’ set.

For AGA, DRS has allocated 37405/419/422/425, while for Northern, DRS has allocated 37401/402/409/423., DRS also has 37407 and 37424 undergoing major rebuilds at Railway Vehicle Engineering Ltd, with 37413 expected to follow. 

• For more on the Class 37/4 passenger work, read RAIL 798, published on April 13.