Rail Operations Group

Rail Operations Group
Overview
Fleet size 5 x Class 37
6 x Class 47
2 x Class 57
Founded November 2015
Website www.railopsgroup.co.uk
47813 at Old Oak Common TMD in September 2017
37884 with ROG headboard and Dellner coupler in May 2016

Rail Operations Group (ROG) specialises in ad-hoc movement of rolling stock for rolling stock operating companies and train operating companies as well as locomotive spot hire services and the operation of charter trains. Founded by Karl Watts, it commenced operating in November 2015.

History

After being granted an operating licence by the Office of Rail & Road (ORR) in March 2015, Rail Operations Group commenced operating rolling stock movements with a Class 37 (37884) leased from Europhoenix in November 2015.[1][2][3][4][5] It was joined by a second (37800) from the same source in July 2016.[6][7] Class 56 locomotives have previously been hired from UK Rail Leasing (UKRL) as well as 56301 from the Class 56 Preservation) Group to perform rolling stock haulage.[8]

In March 2016, ROG purchased five Class 47s (47812, 47815, 47843, 47847 and 47848) from Riviera Trains in June 2016.[9][10][11][12] A sixth Class 47 (47813) was acquired in 2017 from Direct Rail Services (DRS).[13][14]

In July 2016 ROG was granted a charter operator licence by the ORR.[15] In August 2016, ROG commenced a five-year contract to move rolling stock for Angel Trains.[5][16]

In 2017, ROG began to move second generation multiple units without having to use a barrier vehicle courtesy by fitting some of its locomotives with Dellner couplers to haul multiple units built after 2001 and using a tightlock coupling device developed by UKRL.[17]

In August 2017, ROG operated its first scheduled passenger services when it operated services from London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street under contract to Chiltern Railways.[18] ROG has also leased Class 50 locomotives for snow clearing and to assist other train operating companies in route learning for diversions.[19]

Class 57s 57305 and 57312 are to join the fleet on a long term hire deal from DRS in 2018.[20]

Livery

Class 37s on hire to ROG from Europhoenix carry their owners grey and red livery with some having ROC decals.[21] In 2017 ROG unveiled a dark blue livery on the first of its own class 47s.[22] A Rail Operations Group headboard is often carried by trains operated by ROG.

Fleet

References

  1. ↑ "ROG prepares 37/7s with more locomotives targeted" Rail issue 788 25 November 2015 page 31
  2. ↑ "ROG completes work on first 37 for EMU haulage" Rail issue 790 23 December 2015 page 29
  3. ↑ "37884 in traffic with ROG" Today's Railways UK issue 169 January 2016 page 65
  4. ↑ "Rail Operations Group seeks more Class 37s" The Railway Magazine issue 1379 February 2016 page 82
  5. 1 2 "Carving out a niche" The Railway Magazine issue 1386 September 2016 pages 14-18
  6. ↑ "37800 returns" Today's Railways UK issue 176 August 2016 page 63
  7. ↑ "Second Europhoenix Reinstated" Rail Express issue 243 August 2016 page 87
  8. ↑ "Other Operators". Class 56 Group. Rail Operations Group (ROG). Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  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. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "ROC signs multi-million pound deal with Angel Trains" Rail issue 807 17 August 2016 page 27
  17. ↑ "UKRL Debuts Locomotive-to-Multiple Unit "Tightlock" Design". UKRL. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "First scheduled passenger trains for ROG" Today's Railways UK issue 190 October 2017 page 25
  19. ↑ "English Electric Type 4 (later BR Class 50) diesel locomotives". SVR Live. 2 March 2018. February 22nd 2018 & March 2nd 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  20. ↑ In Brief Railways Illustrated issue 188 October 2018 page 17
  21. ↑ Fleet Details Europhoenix
  22. ↑ "First ROG 47 in new livery" Today's Railways UK issue 189 September 2017 page 66
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