British Rail Class 67

British Rail Class 67
Company type	Diesel-electric locomotive
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	British Rail Class 47
Founded	1999
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Locomotives
Owner	DB Cargo UK, GB Railfreight, Transport for Wales Rail, Colas Rail
Number of employees	30 locomotives built

| fuelcap = 
| trainheating = Electric Train Supply (rating: 66 / 330 kW)
| multipleworking = AAR system (compatible with British Rail Class 59, British Rail Class 66, 67, British Rail Class 68 units 008-015, British Rail Class 69, British Rail Class 70 (diesel), and British Rail Class 73)
| axleloadclass = Route availability 8
| operator = 
| bogies =
| wheelbase = 
| fueltype = Diesel fuel
| safety = 
| currentowner = 
| disposition = 21 active, 8 stored, 1 dismantled

}}

The Class 67 locomotives represent a fleet of Bo-Bo diesel-electric engines constructed by Alstom at their Meinfesa plant in Valencia between 1999 and 2000 for English Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS). Their propulsion systems are sourced from General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. This class comprises thirty locomotives, numbered consecutively from 67001 through 67030. The Electro-Motive Division classifies this model as JT42HW-HS.

As of May 27, 2025, unit number 67003 became the first locomotive to be scrapped at Kingsbury. Current operators include DB Cargo UK, GB Railfreight, Transport for Wales Rail, and Colas Rail, which owns two units. These locomotives are capable of multiple working with Classes 59, 66, and 67 among others and are fitted with advanced safety systems such as AWS, TPWS, and ETCS on selected units.

Engineered for both freight and passenger operations demanding dependable power output—featuring a 3200 bhp engine delivering roughly 2500 hp at the wheels—the Class 67 achieves a maximum speed of 125 mph and carries up to 5400 liters of fuel. Their electric train supply supports onboard heating and auxiliary power requirements.

Design, testing and introduction

EWS commissioned thirty locomotives through leasing firm Angel Trains under a £45 million agreement shared between Alstom and Electro Motive Diesel. These units were intended to replace the older Class 47 fleet for hauling high-speed Royal Mail services and passenger trains. The locomotives were leased for fifteen years from Angel Trains before ownership was transferred to DB Cargo UK.

The body structure employs an Alstom-designed monocoque load-bearing shell coupled with "H" frame bogies also manufactured by Alstom. The prime mover, traction motors, and control systems are products of GM-EMD, similar to those used in the Class 66. Unlike the Class 66, the traction motors are mounted on the frame to reduce unsprung mass and utilize a higher gear ratio to enable greater speeds. The driving cab is centrally positioned.

These locomotives provide Electric Train Supply for heating and air conditioning on passenger trains. They are equipped with both traditional buffers and chain couplers as well as swing-arm mounted buckeye couplers.

High-speed trials commenced with locomotive number 67002 at Alstom’s La Sagra facility in Spain on the Madrid-Toledo high-speed route, achieving a top velocity of .

The initial delivery was locomotive number 67003 in October of 1999. Acceptance testing experienced delays due to minor loading gauge concerns. Trial runs began in December 1999, with all thirty units delivered by early the following year.

Because of a relatively high axle load, an initial speed limit of was enforced pending bogie modifications. Locomotive number 67023 received clearance for operation at higher speeds in July 2001, with all units upgraded by June 2003.

DB Cargo UK

Originally, the Class 67 locomotives were mainly assigned to mail train duties, but their Royal Mail contract concluded in March 2004 after EWS lost the tender in June 2003. Subsequently, First ScotRail utilized these locomotives on the Caledonian Sleeper service for routes north of Edinburgh lacking electrification. In April 2015, GB Railfreight took over hauling the Caledonian Sleeper, repainting and renaming locomotive 67004 specifically for this role. Although GB Railfreight intended to introduce refurbished Class 73/9 locomotives from February 2016, Class 67s continued to operate on some services for several years afterward.

Class 67s are employed as Thunderbird rescue engines along the East Coast Main Line, perform certain freight tasks, and haul charter and tourist trains. From 2003, two units were painted in a special livery for the British Royal Train, with a third receiving a commemorative Diamond Jubilee paint scheme in 2012.

Five locomotives were dedicated to Wrexham & Shropshire operations until the company ceased trading in January 2011. Chiltern Railways began operating ex-Wrexham & Shropshire passenger sets hauled by Class 67s in December 2010 and introduced a 100 mph London to Birmingham Mainline service in September 2011 using these locomotives. To replace Class 67s on its mainline routes, Chiltern leased six Class 68 locomotives starting from December 2014.

As of December 2023, DB Cargo UK announced that ten Class 67 locomotives were available for sale.

Colas Rail

In January 2017, DB Cargo UK sold locomotives numbered 67023 and 67027 to Colas Rail. These units were repainted at Toton TMD for deployment on Network Rail infrastructure monitoring trains. In December 2018, both Class 67s were part of a larger transaction involving 67 locomotives based in France and the UK sold to Beacon Rail Leasing; they were then leased back to Colas Rail.

Transport for Wales Rail

The Transport for Wales Premier Service, launched in 2008 between Holyhead and Cardiff Central, initially operated with Virgin Trains West Coast Class 57s leased under Arriva Trains Wales. In 2012, these were replaced with DB Schenker Class 67 locomotives.

The use of Class 67s expanded further in January 2023 when Transport for Wales leased twelve locomotives from DB Cargo UK. These units were adapted for Push-Pull operation paired with British Rail Mark 4 coaches equipped with a Driving Van Trailer at the opposite end from the locomotive. The Class 67 fleet operates in multiple liveries.

GBRf

In mid-2022, GBRf assumed leases of locomotives 67023 and 67027; however, operational difficulties postponed their introduction until November that year. Locomotive 67023 commenced service on the Caledonian Sleeper contract covering Edinburgh to Inverness routes, while locomotive 67027 was repainted and maintained at Arlington Works.

By June 2023, locomotive 67027 was returned to Colas Rail, having its GBRf branding removed and replaced with Colas decals; locomotive 67023 followed suit later that year.

Summary

Class	No. Built	Year Built	Operator	Loco nos.
Class 67	26	1999–2000	DB Cargo UK	67001-67022 67024-67025 67029-67030
	2		Colas Rail	67023 & 67027
	2		Transport for Wales Rail	67026 & 67028^[1]

Fleet Inventory

Locomotives lacking current official names display their designation within parentheses.

Legend:	Active Service	Inactive/Stored	Decommissioned

Number	Designation	Operator	Paint Scheme	Condition	Remarks
67001	(Night Mail)	DB Cargo UK	Arriva Blue	Active Service
67002	(Special Delivery)	DB Cargo UK	DB Cargo	Active Service	Experienced a major accident at Lawrence Hill, Bristol in November 2000.
67003		DB Cargo UK	Arriva Blue	Decommissioned	Dismantled at EMR Kingsbury on May 27, 2025.
67004	Cairn Gorm (Post Haste)	DB Cargo UK	DB Cargo UK Red	Active Service
67005	King's Messenger (used for British Royal Train)		Royal Claret
67006	Royal Sovereign (used for British Royal Train)		Royal Claret
67007		DB Cargo UK	Queens Platinum Jubilee Purple and White	Active Service
67008		DB Cargo UK	Transport for Wales Rail Red and White	Active Service	Currently leased to Transport for Wales Rail for Premier Services.
67009		DB Cargo UK	EWS Maroon & Gold	Stored	Placed in storage since October 2016.
67010	(Unicorn)	DB Cargo UK	DB Cargo UK Red	Active Service	Leased to Transport for Wales Rail for Premier Services.
67011		DB Cargo UK	EWS Maroon & Gold	Stored	In storage since June 2016.
67012	(A Shropshire Lad)	DB Cargo UK	Wrexham & Shropshire Silver	Active Service	Leased to Transport for Wales Rail for Premier Services.
67013	(Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte)		DB Cargo UK Red
67014	(Thomas Telford)		Transport for Wales Rail Red & White
67015	(David J Lloyd)		DB Cargo UK Red
67016			Transport for Wales Rail Black & Red
67017	Arrow		Transport for Wales Rail Red & White
67018	Keith Heller (Rapid)	DB Cargo UK	DB Cargo UK Red with a Maple Leaf emblem	Stored	Placed in storage March 2019.
67019		DB Cargo UK	EWS Maroon & Gold	Stored	Stored	Stored since March 2015.
67020		DB Cargo UK	Transport for Wales Rail Black & Red	Active Service	Leased to Transport for Wales Rail for Premier Services.
67021		DB Cargo UK	Belmond British Pullman Brown & Cream
67022		DB Cargo UK	Transport for Wales Rail Black & Red		Leased to Transport for Wales Rail for Premier Services.
67023	Stella	Colas Rail	Debranded Colas Rail Yellow & Orange		Returned to Colas from GBR Freight.
67024		DB Cargo UK	Belmond British Pullman Brown & Cream
67025	(Western Star)	DB Cargo UK	Transport for Wales Rail Red & White		Leased to Transport for Wales Rail for Premier Services.
67026	Diamond Jubilee	Transport for Wales Rail	Jubilee Silver	Stored	In storage since June 2016; acquired by Transport for Wales Rail in May 2024.
67027	(Rising Star) (Charlotte)	Colas Rail	GB Railfreight livery with Colas markings	Active Service	Returned to Colas from GB Railfreight.
67028		Transport for Wales Rail	DB Cargo UK Red	Active Service	Purchased by Transport for Wales Rail in May 2024.
67029	Royal Diamond	DB Cargo UK	DB Cargo UK Silver	Leased to Transport for Wales Rail for Premier Services.
67030	Schenker	DB Cargo UK	EWS Maroon & Gold	Stored	In storage since October 2019.

Liveries and namings

At the outset, these locomotives bore the maroon and yellow color scheme of EWS. In December 2000 and February 2005, respectively, units 67005 and 67006 took over from Class 47s on Royal Train duties, receiving a repaint in Royal Claret and being christened Queen's Messenger and Royal Sovereign.

In October 2004, locomotive 67029 was transformed with a silver paint finish featuring full-height EWS logos to serve the EWS Company Train. On 12 October 2007, it was officially named Royal Diamond at Rugeley Trent Valley railway station in celebration of the 60th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Between 2008 and 2009, locomotives numbered 67012 through 67015 were repainted into the silver and grey livery of Wrexham & Shropshire and given the names A Shropshire Lad, Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte, Thomas Telford, and David J Lloyd. Locomotive 67010 joined this group in March 2009. This sub-fleet was eventually disbanded by late 2014, with each unit receiving new liveries reflecting their subsequent assignments.

In January 2010, unit 67018 was repainted in DB Schenker red adorned with a maple leaf motif and named Keith Heller at the National Railway Museum, honoring the Canadian-born former chairman of EWS and DB Schenker UK.

During 2011, locomotives 67001 to 67003 were repainted in blue associated with Arriva Trains Wales, albeit without company branding, to operate regular services between Cardiff and Holyhead.

March 2012 saw locomotive 67026 acquire a silver livery embellished with a union flag and Diamond Jubilee emblem to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The engine was named Diamond Jubilee by Queen Elizabeth II herself at London Victoria station.

In March 2015, unit 67004 received the Caledonian 'Midnight Teal' paint scheme and was named Cairn Gorm. Alongside similarly repainted 67010, it operated on non-electrified segments of the Serco Caledonian Sleeper service until replaced by Class 73/9 locomotives managed by GB Railfreight. Both units have since been repainted into DB Cargo red; notably, 67004 had spent nearly two years in storage prior to repainting.

In June 2017, Colas Rail locomotives numbered 67023 and 67027 were named Stella and Charlotte, respectively, with their names displayed on plates affixed to their sides.

By October 2017, locomotives 67021 and 67024 had been repainted into an unbranded umber and cream livery associated with Belmond British Pullman, later acquiring official Belmond insignia.

In October 2018, locomotives 67005 and 67006 assigned to Royal Train duties were returned to a slightly updated version of the Royal Claret livery.

Incidents

A significant accident occurred on 1 November 2000 near Lawrence Hill (Bristol), when a Royal Mail train passed two red signals before colliding with the rear of a coal train at approximately 3:30 am. The mail service was hauled by locomotive 67002 "Special Delivery" at the front with unit 67012 at the rear and was traveling at . The front locomotive rode up onto the back of the coal train before coming to rest against the A420 Church Road bridge. The driver of the mail train suffered a broken arm along with facial lacerations; no other injuries were reported. While brake failure was initially suspected, investigations determined that improper handling of the locomotive's brake pipe isolation valve by railway personnel was responsible for the incident.

Model railways

In 2006, Hornby Railways launched its initial BR Class 67 replica in OO gauge, offered in multiple paint schemes. Additionally, the Class 67 stands out as one of the scarce British locomotives available commercially in T Scale.