Rail Operations Group

Rail Operations Group (ROG) specialises in ad-hoc movement of rolling stock for rolling stock companies and train operating companies as well as locomotive spot hire services and the operation of charter trains. It has its headquarters and main offices based in Derby.[1]

Rail Operations Group
Overview
Fleet size20 locomotives
Dates of operation2014[1]–
Other
Websitewww.railopsgroup.co.uk

ROG was established during 2014, and received its operating licence from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) during March 2016, commencing rail operations immediately thereafter. Early on, ROG operated a small fleet of leased Class 37 locomotives, and has quickly diversified its fleet to include both newer and more powerful types such as the Class 47, Class 56 and Class 57. The company has stated its ambitions to procure new-built locomotives and to operate its own high speed freight services, challenging the traditional model.

History
47813 at Old Oak Common TMD in September 2017

The Rail Operations Group (ROG) was established during 2014 by Karl Watts and David Burley. At its onset, the company was expressly focused upon serving the expanding rail services sector, such as the haulage of new and refurbished trainsets between manufacturing sites, ports, and depots, as well as transferring off-lease trains around the rail network. According to Watts, a valuable opportunity had been presented at this time by a large proportion of rolling stock that was approaching the end of their leases.[1]

During March 2016, the company was granted an operating licence by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), allowing it to commence rolling stock movements. ROG initially operated such movements using a single Class 37 locomotive which had been leased from Europhoenix in November 2015.[2][3][4] During July 2016, ROG opted to lease a second Class 37, also supplied by Europhoenix.[5][6][7][8] Typical rolling stock movements using ROG's Class 37s involved directly coupling to the specific trainset being hauled, as opposed to the conventional approach of marshalling and shunting the trainset into a longer freight train, which was considerably more time-consuming at both the departure and arrival parts of the journey.[1]

Another strategy employed by ROG to reduce the complexity of rolling stock movements was using its train crews to operate the trainsets directly, rather than hauling them via a separate locomotive at all. Such an approach had been used on several occasions, including the movement of Greater Anglia's Class 321 multiple units, Northern Rail’s Sprinter fleet and ScotRail's InterCity 125s.[1] By 2019, roughly 60 per cent of all rolling stock movements were using this self-powered approach. Unlike conventional train operating companies, ROG lacks a routine operating plan, instead dynamically adjusting to customer requirements; the company's management has attributed this flexibility as having resulted in high customer satisfaction and repeated custom.[1]

Between 2016 and 2017, ROG purchased a total of five Class 47 locomotives from Riviera Trains,[9][10][11][12] as well as another one from Direct Rail Services.[13][14] Furthermore, a handful of Class 56 locomotives were also hired on a short term basis, mainly from UK Rail Leasing while another example was leased from the Class 56 Preservation Group; they were used to perform rolling stock haulage.[15]

In July 2016, ROG was granted a charter operator licence by the ORR.[16] One month later, ROG commenced a five-year contract to move rolling stock for Angel Trains.[8][17] ROG operated its first scheduled passenger services, providing additional relief services from London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street under contract to Chiltern Railways between 26-28 August 2017 due to the temporary closure of London Euston, these services were operated by 47812 and 813 with six leased Mk2 Coaches.[18] However, according to the company's management, passenger services remain a relatively low priority compared with other sectors being targeted by the business.[1]

During 2017, ROG began to move second generation multiple units without having to use a barrier vehicle; this was achieved by fitting some of its locomotives with Dellner couplers to haul multiple units built after 2001 and using a tightlock coupling device developed by UK Rail Leasing.[19] ROG worked with Dellner and external consultants to specially design the coupler to be highly adjustable to suit various different rolling stock; specifically, the height of the adapter can be rapidly altered to sit at the optimal height for the hauled consist, while the electrical equipment was also reengineered so that longer consists could be hauled by its Class 37s.[1] Amongst other benefits, these modifications meant that ROG did not rely on separate translator vehicles, further simplifying movements.[20]

ROG experienced a rapid expansion in demand for its services during its first few years of operation, recording an average year-on-year growth rate of 91 percent as of 2019.[1] The company has organised itself into four major division, consisting of ROG, Traxion (handling the storage of rolling stock), Orion (handling the freight & logistics sector), and an unnamed charter operator unit. ROG has anticipated that the high demand rolling stock haulage may be strong only in the short term, thus management have sought to diversify and innovate in various sectors of the rail industry, particularly in terms of freight.[1][20]

By 2019, ROG had been contracted to be involved with the testing and commissioning of several new fleets, such as Greater Anglia’s Stadler units and London Overground Class 710 multiple units. The company has also leased several Class 50 locomotives, which have been used for snow clearing and to assist other train operating companies in route learning for diversions.[21] In 2018, ROG confirmed a long term lease for two Class 57s owned by Direct Rail Services;[22] the company also announced its intentions to order a batch of ten new-build Class 93s from Stadler Rail. At the time, the first locomotive was anticipated to be delivered around August 2020.[23]

By 2019, ROG's management had developed ambitious plans for high speed logistics services under the branding of Orion.[1] The firm hopes to drive a modal shift from road towards the railway, observing the market for parcels and express delivery to be valued at £16.7 billion alone. While conventional freight operator have offered the market relatively inflexible timetables, management believe that flexibility and high speeds would positively influence customers. The company reportedly aims to offer freight services at speeds of up to 125mph across the railway network via the procurement of a new generation of traction.[1] By travelling at such high speeds, logistics services could slot into existing paths along the East Coast Main Line and the West Coast Main Line, alleviating capacity issues. ROG has speculated on using various existing traction, including the Class 91, Class 90, as well as the new-built Class 93, hauling consists of converted Mark 3 carriages.[1] Services to London's terminal stations is feasible due to low passenger demands during nighttime.[1]

During March 2020, ROG received four Class 20 locomotives from Harry Needle Railroad Company on short-term loan, all four came off lease in May of that year.

On 12 January 2021 a press release indicating STAR Capital Partnership had made a significant investment in the group's controlling company Rail Operations (UK) Limited (ROUK). ROUK's existing sudsidiaries of Rail Operations Group Limited (ROG) and Rail Operations (Rolling Stock Management) Limited (Traxion) were to be joined by a new subsidiary Orion to focus on high speed logistics and freight services.[24]

Fleet

Current fleet

Rail Operations Group has a fleet of 20 locomotives, three of which are reportedly being held in storage.

Class Image Top speed Number Locomotive numbers Built Notes
mph km/h
Diesel locomotives
37/6 & 37/7 80 130 6 37510, 37601, 37608, 37611, 37800, 37884 1961–63
47/4 75 121 6 47812–813, 47815, 47843, 47847–848 1964–65 47843 and 47847 stored

47813, 815 and 848 in "Thank You NHS" vinyls

57/3
95 153 4 57301, 57305, 57310, 57312 1964-67 on Long-term lease from Direct Rail Services

Future fleet

At one point, ROG anticipated receiving the first of ten Class 93 tri-mode locomotives during 2020.[23] The company had promoted the type as being considerably more advanced and environmentally friendly than typical diesel-powered freight locomotives such as the Class 66.[20] While traditional freight trains are often difficult to path due to passenger services being far faster, the Class 93 is capable of comparable speeds, eliminating a traditional capacity limitation. As of September 2020, a firm order for the locomotive is yet to be placed.[20]

In January 2019, ROG was confirmed its plans to operate a pair of Class 769 multiple units; these would be operated on nighttime services hauling mail.[25] The bi-mode propulsion system fitted enables a greater robustness of services, as they can readily diverge from the electrified principal routes via unwired diversions to avoid engineering works or other causes of route unavailability. While the Class 769s are to be refurbished by Wabtec for hauling light cargo, they are to retain their passenger information systems so that they can be readily converted back to regular passenger duties if required.[1][20] During March 2020, it was announced that the order had been increased to five units as the company sought to expand its presence in the logistics sector.[26]

Class Image Top speed Number Locomotive numbers Built
mph km/h
Tri-mode locomotives
93 110 180 10 93001–93010 TBC
Bi-mode multiple units
769 Flex 100 161 5 TBA 2017-2021

References
  1. Clinnick, Richard (9 October 2019). "FROM THE ARCHIVES: Operations, options and opportunities". railmagazine.com.
  2. "ROG prepares 37/7s with more locomotives targeted." Rail, issue 788, 25 November 2015. page 31.
  3. "ROG completes work on first 37 for EMU haulage." Rail, issue 790, 23 December 2015. page 29.
  4. "37884 in traffic with ROG." Today's Railways UK, issue 169, January 2016. page 65.
  5. "37800 returns" Today's Railways UK issue 176 August 2016 page 63
  6. "Second Europhoenix Reinstated." Rail Express, issue 243, August 2016. page 87.
  7. "Rail Operations Group seeks more Class 37s." The Railway Magazine, issue 1379, February 2016. page 82.
  8. "Carving out a niche." The Railway Magazine, issue 1386, September 2016, pages 14-18.
  9. "ROG buys five Riviera Class 47s." The Railway Magazine, issue 1384, July 2016. page 79.
  10. "ROG earmarks Class 47s for passenger and freight work." Rail, issue 804, 6 July 2016. page 34.
  11. "ROG buys five Riviera Class 47s." Today's Railways, issue 176, August 2016. page 60.
  12. "Riviera Trains sells Class 47s." Rail Express issue 243, August 2016. page 86.
  13. "News in Brief." Rail, issue 827, 24 May 2017. page 28.
  14. "ROG buys sixth 47." Today's Railways UK, issue 184, April 2017. page 67.
  15. "Other Operators". Class 56 Group. Rail Operations Group (ROG). Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  16. "Approval of Rail Operations Group Disabled People's Protection Policy (Condition 5 of the GB Passenger Statement of National Regulatory Conditions)" (PDF). Office of Rail & Road. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  17. "ROC signs multi-million pound deal with Angel Trains." Rail, issue 807, 17 August 2016. page 27.
  18. "First scheduled passenger trains for ROG." Today's Railways UK, issue 190, October 2017. page 25.
  19. "UKRL Debuts Locomotive-to-Multiple Unit "Tightlock" Design". UKRL. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  20. Shirres, David (1 September 2020). "Re-engineering Rail Freight". railengineer.co.uk.
  21. "English Electric Type 4 (later BR Class 50) diesel locomotives". SVR Live. 2 March 2018. February 22 2018 & March 2 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  22. In Brief. Railways Illustrated, issue 188, October 2018. page 17.
  23. "Rail Operations fuels its ambitions with tri-mode Class 93s". Rail. 19 December 2018.
  24. STAR Capital Partners (12 January 2021). "Star Capital acquires Rail Operations (UK) Limited" (Press release). |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  25. Lea, Robert. "Poetic return for Auden's night train in era of ecommerce". The Times. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  26. "More FLEX units for ROG as it expands logistics traffic plans". www.railmagazine.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
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