Engineering Support Group with install GSM-R signalling equipment to ten freight locomotives for evaluation. The classes of locomotive are 37, 47, 56, 58, 59, 60, 66, 67, 90 and 92. One of the first locomotives to be fitted is a class 58. Engineering Support Group will design how to fit the signalling equipment to the locomotives, and has contracted Axiom Rail to install it to each locomotive at their facilities at Toton (Nottinghamshire) and Crewe.

These trial fitments will be undertaken in parallel with the fitment of GSM-R to 25 EWS locomotives. These will take part in the Strathclyde area pilot trial of GSM-R to ensure that the equipment will be suitable for the freight environment and will operate well when national implementation occurs.

Mark Roberts, Engineering Support Group Project Manager, said: "ESG are pleased to be awarded this contract by Siemens Transportation Systems. Each locomotive type will require unique solutions and ESG has a highly experienced team that will deliver them. ESG has successfully fitted French signalling systems to the freight locomotive of choice in Britain, the class 66. This was a complex project which required new ways of thinking to be developed to enable the locomotive to work in both France and Britain. We are delighted following this success to embark upon a similar project to fit GSM-R to ten different classes of freight locomotives."