Testing, Operations, and Subclasses
The initial order for 40 units was reduced to 38, numbered 9001 to 9038. The first locomotive was completed in 1992, and two units were tested at the Velim test track in Czechoslovakia. The formal opening took place on 6 May 1994 with Queen Elizabeth II and François Mitterrand travelling on a shuttle through the tunnel.
In 1996 a fire occurred in the tunnel that damaged locomotives 9030 and 9006, 9030 beyond repair. In 1997 Eurotunnel ordered five more locomotives, and in 1998 nine more. One of the second batch was numbered 9040, the others 9101 to 9113.
In 2000 seven more were ordered numbered 97xx, with an increased power of 7MW; deliveries ended in 2003,. After 2000 20 units were upgraded from 5.6MW to 7MW to match the increasing length of truck shuttles, replacing main transformer, traction converters and motors.
In 2011 Eurotunnel had 57 locomotives, of which 34 are 7MW machines, the remainder 5.6MW. The company plans to uprate 11 more machines to 7MW by 2013.
The locomotives are maintained at the Eurotunnel depot at Coquelles near Calais, France.
| Number range | Built | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9001-9038 | 1992–1994 | 5.6MW | 9030 withdrawn due to fire damage |
| 9040 | 1998 | Built to replace fire-damaged locomotive 9030 | |
| 9101-9113 | 1998–2001 | Dedicated to freight shuttles | |
| 9701-9707 | 2001–2002 | 7MW | |
| 9801- | Rebuilt 2004-2012 | Rebuilt from 5.6MW machines |
Read more about this topic: Eurotunnel Class 9