We ride a Class 66 on East West Rail

Any cab ride in a Class 66 pulling a heavy intermodal service is a real treat. As is the chance to see the longest stretch of new railway in the country for quite a number of years from the best seat in the house – the cab.

However, the chance to do both at the same time is a remarkable opportunity and so when I was invited to ride a DB Cargo Class 66 on an intermodal service from Didcot Yard to Northampton Gateway Terminal across East West Rail, I jumped at the chance!

And what a brilliant ride it was as well. From the congestion of the line between Didcot and Oxford, then across towards Bicester and from there on East West Rail itself through Winslow to Bletchley. Then it was a quick blast up the West Coast Main Line through Milton Keynes and Wolverton before turning right at Roade Junction onto the Northampton Loop for a very short distance before pulling off the main line and into Maritime’s fabulous new container terminal.

With special thanks to DB Cargo for allowing me to do this, to our driver Mike Tucknott and to Tim Heath, Safety and Assurance Manager for DB Cargo for accompanying us.

Just sit back and enjoy a heavy freight train over Britain’s newest section of main line railway – A Class 66 over East West Rail.