Track construction company Colas Rail UK has completed a test run using hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) as an alternative to diesel fuel in a Class 56 locomotive. The trial was realised on a line from Chirk to Baglan in Wales. The locomotive with the serial number 56051, manufactured in the late 1980s, was used for the test. By choosing HVO fuel, Colas Rail has taken a proactive approach to achieving the net-zero targets mandated by the UK government. Preliminary estimates suggest that the trial has resulted in a reduction of around 20,000 t of carbon emissions.
