Freight operating company GB Railfreight has revealed that the last of its leased Akiem locomotives, 66/3 (66316), has entered service.

The locomotive has undergone extension conversion to UK gauge and specification, with the work taking place at EMD Longport in Stoke-on-Trent.

The work was extensive, and involved a complete overhaul of the engine, crankshaft polish, new bearing, new turbo, new alternator and new compressor.

It also included a number of modifications, including passive noise, air conditioning, next-generation train protection warning system TPWS4 and communication system GSMR (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway).

The locomotive has also had a change of appearance, albeit a temporary one.

Rather than a full repaint, GBRf has applied its logo on decals over the loco’s HHPI grey livery.

It has taken this course of action due to time restrictions with a busy RHTT (Rail Head Treatment Train) season ahead.

GB Railfreight is one of two companies that run the RHTT service for Network Rail. The other is Colas.

The locomotive, which was manufactured in the USA and first entered service in Germany in 2003, will have a full repaint at a later time.

At the start of 2023, GB Railfreight announced that it had signed a ten-year locomotive leasing deal with European locomotive maintenance and leasing company, Akiem.

The agreement with Akiem represented a £25 million investment for GB Railfreight and an increase in the number of locomotives that it operates.

Under the agreement, locomotives arrived in the UK from continental Europe between January 2023 and May 2024.

One of the trains was named after Ipswich Town Football Club in January 2024. Locomotive 66316 is the last of them to enter service with GBRf.

Akiem has leasing agreements with several rolling stock manufacturing companies, including deals with Alstom and Siemens.

Akiem has the largest fleet in continental Europe. Its headquarters are in France, and it also has seven international offices.