Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services (DRS) is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought second-hand and subsequently refurbished. Ownership of DRS was transferred from BNFL to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority when the NDA was created on 1 April 2005, under the terms of the Energy Act 2004. DRS is the only remaining publicly owned rail freight company in the United Kingdom.
Operations
DRS now operates all nuclear flask trains in the country, which were previously operated by EWS. Destinations served include the UK nuclear power stations at Heysham, Valley (for Wylfa), Bridgwater (for Hinkley Point), Berkeley (for Oldbury), Hunterston, Torness, Seaton-on-Tees, Dungeness and Sizewell.
The company formerly operated trains to the railhead at Southminster for fuel from Bradwell Power Station, however this installation is now in the process of being decommissioned. Occasionally trains are run from Sellafield to Ramsden Dock at Barrow-in-Furness, which carry nuclear waste imported from Japan for treatment. DRS also have a sporadic contract with supplying the Royal Navy's Devonport Dockyard with fuel for Britain's nuclear submarine fleet, however these trains only run several times per year, as required.
The company has recently started running intermodal trains from Coatbridge to the Daventry International Railfreight Terminal using its own Class 66 locomotives for The Malcolm Group (the logistics company), carrying containers for both The Malcolm Group and ASDA, and in 2006 commenced with a new service on behalf of Eddie Stobart in partnership with Tesco, the UK's largest food retailer, to move containers from Daventry north to Scotland using a new dedicated low-emission Class 66 locomotive in Eddie Stobart livery. For the first half of 2008, DRS also operated the Stobart Pullman railtour trains, using Class 47 locomotives.
DRS has also won traffic from other railfreight operators recently, taking over the Russell container trains previously run by EWS and also the right to operate some Network Rail sandite trains during the leaf fall season, mainly with Class 37s and 66s. Currently, Direct Rail Services also hire a number of the 2007 batch of Class 66s to Freightliner while they address a shortage in motive power after also winning contracts from EWS.
Its locomotive fleet is based at Kingmoor depot in Carlisle, which reopened during 2000. There are also facilities on-site at Sellafield Nuclear Plant in Western Cumbria, and a new depot at Crewe, Gresty Bridge has recently been opened as a stabling point. Facilities in East Anglia are concentrated at Stowmarket, with a small stabling point known as Marsh Lane. This is mainly used during the Autumn Sandite season, although locomotives can sometimes be found there at other times of the year. Throughout the year, locomotives may be stabled in the Parcels Sidings at York railway station, in order to work wagons between Haverton Hill and Carlisle.
Fleet details
Key: | Currently Operational | Stored | Under Repair & Overhaul | Spares Donors |
---|
Number | Class | Name | Livery | Year Acquired | Previous Owner | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
08834 | 08 | - | DRS Blue | 2006 | ex-Wabtec | Operational |
08892 | 08 | - | DRS Blue | 2006 | ex-Wabtec | Operational |
20301 | 20 | Max Joule | DRS Blue | 1995 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20302 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1995 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20303 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1995 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20304 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1995 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20305 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1995 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20306 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20307 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20308 | 20 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 1997 | ex-British Rail | At Glasgow Springburn Works, under repair. |
20309 | 20 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 1997 | ex-British Rail | At Crewe Gresty Bridge. |
20310 | 20 | Gresty Bridge | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20311 | 20 | Class 20 "Fifty" | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20312 | 20 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 1997 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20313 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
20314 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-British Rail | At Brush, Loughborough, under repair. |
20315 | 20 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-British Rail | Operational |
37029 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2003 | ex-Riviera Trains | At Brush, Loughborough. |
37038 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2003 | ex-Riley & Son | Operational |
37059 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2002 | ex-EWS | Operational |
37069 | 37 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2002 | ex-EWS | Operational |
37087 | 37 | Keighley & Worth Valley Railway | DRS Blue | 2005 | ex-HNRC | Operational |
37194 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2005 | ex-HNRC | Operational |
37197 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2005 | ex-WCRC | At Brush, Loughborough, under repair. |
37218 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2002 | ex-EWS | At Brush, Loughborough, under repair. |
37229 | 37 | Jonty Jarvis | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2002 | ex-EWS | Operational |
37259 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2002 | ex-Cotswold Rail | Operational |
37261 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2005 | ex-WCRC | Operational |
37409 | 37 | - | Transrail Grey | 2008 | ex-BREL | At Barrow Hill, under repair. |
37423 | 37 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | ex-WCRC | Operational |
37510 | 37 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2005 | ex-HNRC | At Carlisle Kingmoor. |
37515 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2005 | ex-HNRC | At Barrow Hill. |
37601 | 37 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Eurostar | At Crewe Gresty Bridge. |
37602 | 37 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2002 | ex-Nightstar | Operational |
37603 | 37 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Eurostar | At Crewe Gresty Bridge. |
37604 | 37 | - | EPS | 2007 | ex-Eurostar | At Brush, Loughborough, under overhaul. |
37605 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2002 | ex-Nightstar | Operational |
37606 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2002 | ex-Nightstar | Operational |
37607 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-Nightstar | Operational |
37608 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-Nightstar | Operational |
37609 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-Nightstar | Operational |
37610 | 37 | T.S. Cassady | DRS Blue (Compass) | 1997 | ex-Nightstar | At Carlisle Kingmoor, under repair. |
37611 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-Nightstar | Operational |
37612 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 1997 | ex-Nightstar | Operational |
37667 | 37 | - | DRS Blue | 2007 | ex-HNRC | Operational |
37682 | 37 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2008 | ex-HNRC | At Carlisle Kingmoor. |
37683 | 37 | - | Transrail Grey | 2008 | ex-EWS | At Barrow Hill, under repair. |
37688 | 37 | Kingmoor TMD | DRS Blue | 2006 | ex-EWS | Operational |
47501 | 47 | Craftsman | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2002 | ex-EWS | Operational |
47709 | 47 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-FM Rail | At Carlisle Kingmoor. |
47712 | 47 | Pride of Carlisle | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-FM Rail | Operational |
47714 | 47 | - | Anglia Railways | 2008 | ex-Cotswold Rail | At Brush, Loughborough, under repair. |
47790 | 47 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-EWS | At Brush, Loughborough, under repair. |
47802 | 47 | Pride of Cumbria | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2002 | ex-EWS | Operational |
47832 | 47 | Solway Princess | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Victa Westlink Rail | Operational |
47841 | 47 | - | Virgin Trains Red | 2008 | ex-HNRC | At Barrow Hill, under repair. |
55016 | 55 | Gordon Highlander | British Railways Green | 2008 | ex-HNRC | At Peak Rail. |
57002 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2008 | ex-Freightliner | At Glasgow Springburn Works. |
57003 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2008 | ex-Freightliner | At Crewe LNWR for repaint. |
57004 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2008 | ex-Freightliner | Operational |
57007 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Freightliner | Operational |
57008 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Freightliner | Operational |
57009 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Freightliner | Operational |
57010 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Freightliner | Operational |
57011 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Freightliner | Operational |
57012 | 57 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | ex-Freightliner | Operational |
66401 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | Operational |
66402 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | Operational |
66403 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | Operational |
66404 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | Operational |
66405 | 66 | - | DRS/Malcolm Group | 2003 | - | Operational |
66406 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | At Carlisle Kingmoor. |
66407 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | At Carlisle Kingmoor. |
66408 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | At Carlisle Kingmoor. |
66409 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | At Carlisle Kingmoor. |
66410 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2003 | - | Operational |
66411 | 66 | Eddie the Engine | Stobart Rail | 2006 | - | Operational |
66412 | 66 | - | Malcolm Rail | 2006 | - | Operational |
66413 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | - | Operational |
66414 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | - | Operational |
66415 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | - | Operational |
66416 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | - | Operational |
66417 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | - | Operational |
66418 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | - | Operational |
66419 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | - | Operational |
66420 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2006 | - | Operational |
66421 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66422 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66423 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66424 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66425 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66426 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66427 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66428 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66429 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66430 | 66 | - | DRS Blue (Compass) | 2007 | - | Operational |
66401-66410 are to be transferred to other Train Operating Companies when the lease of them by DRS expires. DRS have confirmed that they have ordered replacements in the form of 66431-66434, which are further low-emissions locomotives, like 66411-66430, in order to standardise their fleet.
Past Fleet
Key: | Preserved | Sold for further use | Scrapped |
---|
Number | Class | Year Acquired | Year Disposed | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
20016 | 20 | 2000 | 2006 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20057 | 20 | 2000 | 2006 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20066 | 20 | 2000 | 2004 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20073 | 20 | 2000 | 2006 | Scrapped in 2006. |
20081 | 20 | 2000 | 2006 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20088 | 20 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20092 | 20 | 2000 | 2006 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20105 | 20 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20121 | 20 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20132 | 20 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20165 | 20 | 2000 | 2001 | Scrapped in 2001. |
20209 | 20 | 2000 | 2001 | Scrapped in 2001. |
20215 | 20 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20901 | 20 | 1998 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20902 | 20 | 1998 | 2004 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20903 | 20 | 1998 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20904 | 20 | 1998 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20905 | 20 | 1998 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
20906 | 20 | 1998 | 2005 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
33002 | 33 | 2000 | 2004 | Preserved on South Devon Railway. |
33008 | 33 | 2000 | 2004 | Preserved in 2005. |
33023 | 33 | 2000 | 2002 | Scrapped in 2005. |
33025 | 33 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to West Coast Railway Company. |
33029 | 33 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to West Coast Railway Company. |
33030 | 33 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to West Coast Railway Company. |
33053 | 33 | 2000 | 2005 | Preserved by private owner. |
33057 | 33 | 2000 | 2005 | Preserved on West Somerset Railway. |
33203 | 33 | 2000 | 2005 | Scrapped in 2005. |
33205 | 33 | 2000 | 2003 | Scrapped in 2003. |
33207 | 33 | 2000 | 2005 | Sold to West Coast Railway Company. |
37023 | 37 | 2005 | 2008 | Sold to Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. |
37051 | 37 | 2005 | 2008 | Scrapped in 2008. |
37068 | 37 | 2002 | 2005 | Scrapped in 2005. |
37344 | 37 | 2002 | 2005 | Scrapped in 2005. |
37902 | 37 | 2002 | 2005 | Scrapped in 2005. |
47145 | 47 | 2007 | 2008 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |
47237 | 47 | 2002 | 2007 | Sold to Cotswold Rail. |
47298 | 47 | 2002 | 2007 | Scrapped in 2007. |
47484 | 47 | 2002 | 2006 | Preserved in 2006. |
47829 | 47 | 2007 | 2008 | Sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company. |