Freightliner hires UK Rail Leasing Class 56

Freightliner Heavy Haul has confirmed to RAIL it is hiring 56081 from UK Rail Leasing, and that more could follow.

The ‘56’ is being trialled for low-mileage activity to release main line engines for growth. It has been returned to traffic at UKRL’s Leicester depot and Wabtec Rail’s Brush Traction Loughborough facility.

UKRL owns 15 Class 56s, and this is the first to go on hire. It was stored by EWS in 2006, after returning from a period on hire in France with Fertis.

UKRL also has 56007/018/098, 56104 on the comeback trail.