British Rail Class 950

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British Rail Class 950
File:Network Rail Class 950, 950001, Upton railway station (geograph 3818330).jpg
Class 950 at Upton, Wirral in January 2014
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Built atHolgate Road Works, York
Family nameSprinter
Constructed1987
Number built1
Number in service1
Formation2 cars: DM-DM
Fleet numbers
  • Unit: 950001
  • Vehicles: 999600 and 999601[1]
OperatorsNetwork Rail
DepotsRailway Technical Centre (Derby)[1]
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[2]
Car length19.930 m (65 ft 4.6 in)[2]
Width2.816 m (9 ft 2.9 in)[2]
Height3.774 m (12 ft 4.6 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Prime mover(s)2 × Cummins NT855-R5 (one per vehicle)[2]
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[3]
Displacement14 L (855 cu in) per engine[3]
Power output213 kW (286 hp) per engine
TransmissionVoith T 211 r (hydrokinetic)
UIC classification2′B′+B′2′
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (tread)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 950 is a diesel multiple unit that was purpose-built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Holgate Road carriage works for the British Rail Research Division for use as a track assessment unit. It is currently operated by Network Rail.

Description

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File:950001 at Severn Tunnel Junction, 999600, closeup.jpg
Cab of vehicle 999600, showing the video camera and laser measurement equipment.

It was built in 1987 using the same bodyshell as the Class 150/1 Sprinters.[4] It was originally classified as a Class 180,[1] but was reclassified into the departmental series[when?]. As part of the privatisation of British Rail, it passed to Railtrack in 1994 and then Network Rail in 2002. The unit is formed of two driving motor vehicles, numbered 999600 and 999601.

Current operations

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The unit is currently painted in a plain overall yellow livery with Network Rail branding. It mostly works on branch lines, where the track quality is not good enough for larger and heavier track assessment stock. It is able to operate over most railway lines around Great Britain. The unit is based at the Railway Technical Centre in Derby.

Future

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In December 2024, Network Rail announced that the unit would be withdrawn and disposed of, to be replaced by additional (modified) Class 153s.[5]

Fleet details

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Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos. Notes
950 Network Rail 1 1987 2 950001 Network Rail Test Train

References

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