10 July 2017 – Rail Operations Group (ROG) has run its first commercial service employing a new locomotive-to-multiple unit Tightlock arrangement, which has been designed, engineered and fitted by UKRL at our Leicester depot. In a first of its kind move, ROG hauled a pair of class 319 EMUs for a rolling stock leasing company using a Class 37 equipped with the new design. Previously hauling these multiple units needed the use of translator vehicles, requiring additional shunt moves and extra time to position the vehicles at either end of the journey.
With the new UKRL Tightlock the loco is simply brought in front of the unit to be moved, the Tightlock raised into position, coupled up and ready to go! The Tightlock System is UKRL’s first major “design engineering” project, bringing new innovations from design through engineering and testing to fitting, and marks another milestone in our development as an innovative engineering partner for the UK’s rail industry.