GB Railfreight has announced that the first Class 99, No. 99001, has left Stadler‘s factory, destined for the test track.
The locomotive left the factory in Valencia this week for the approx 2,000km journey to the Velim Test track in Czech Republic.
At the test track, the locomotive will undergo a programme of testing and commissioning.
After this is completed, 99001 will move to the UK where crew training and more testing can take place. This is expected in early summer.
What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments.

Responses
The Class 99 is indeed a fine looking engine but what a pity that it is not made in the U.K.
Let’s hope that the 400 new trains presently out for tender by Northern Rail are manufactured here and not just assembled from imported parts or, worse still, totally made abroad.
Noone really gives a hoot where they come from as long as they work properly, are reliable, available, and economical. British build trains have a very poor reliability record. That why British Rail had to build more locos that necessary. They were on maintenance more than they were out earning a living. Same goes for Althom Derby and their predecessor Bombardier and Adtrainz, no end of problems trying to get their trains into service. Major construction, software, and quality issues. More problems that the foreign manufacturers, even including Hitachi with the cracking problem. The problem is that in British culture, we never do what is best. We settle for merely adequate. We have a “that will do” attitude. We could do better, but we won’t because it’s not the British way.
What route will the Class 99 locomotives be used on. Or will they be used all over the UK.
If they are half as good as the “sheds” class 66, then that’s a good loco,, have to admit it’s a fine looking engine