DB Class 90s to be exported to Bulgaria

[50002Superb]

Railpressofficial are reporting via their Instagram account that eight DB class 90s are to be exported to Bulgaria.

The locos in question are 90019, 90020, 90024, 90029, 90034, 90035, 90036 and 90037.

I personally haven’t seen 24, 29, 34 and 37 in the flesh for some time:

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdgeemToAq8/?stkn=MWNzc3h5YWxodDdtMA==

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2026 ==

Here’s a pic of 90019, 90020, 90029, 90034, 90035 and 90036 from last August:

67026 90035 90034 90020 90019 90036 90029 Crewe IEMD 21/08/25.

Explore 37260 - 17 million views, many thanks' 15676 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

 

[Class15]

Great news.

While likely to disappoint some UK enthusiasts, it has become clear Freightliner weren’t interested and excellent to see them exported rather than scrapped.

Selfishly, once that Nis - Dimitrovgrad line is electrified, maybe they’ll work into Serbia…

 

[507 001]

DB doing some last minute asset stripping?

(Said with tongue half in cheek)

 

[43096]

Railpressofficial are reporting via their Instagram account that eight DB class 90s are to be exported to Bulgaria.

The locos in question are 90019, 90020, 90024, 90029, 90034, 90035, 90036 and 90037.

I personally haven’t seen 24, 29, 34 and 37 in the flesh for some time:

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdgeemToAq8/?stkn=MWNzc3h5YWxodDdtMA==

No mention of 90028 - an omission, or not in the deal?

Bit strange they couldn’t find a photo of one of the locos involved to illustrate it!

 

[david l]

90028 not included?? AFAIK it's the only other DB one.

 

[Mollman]

Great news.

While likely to disappoint some UK enthusiasts, it has become clear Freightliner weren’t interested and excellent to see them exported rather than scrapped.

Selfishly, once that Nis - Dimitrovgrad line is electrified, maybe they’ll work into Serbia…

I see your point about better than not being scrapped but it is a sad reflection on the current state of the GB rail network. MML electrification was 'Paused' on the pretext that the money would be used for other schemes yet the useful freight fill ins and WCML power upgrades which would have made the 90s attractive domestically are nowhere to be seen.

 

[50002Superb]

90028 not included?? AFAIK it's the only other DB one.

It’s not on the list being reported, it seemed a strange omission to me as well.

 

[Bevan Price]

It’s not on the list being reported, it seemed a strange omission to me as well.

Maybe it has been stored so long that it is "beyond hope" of working again. Likewise, are the others expected to be repaired, or just sold for "spares" to keep the others working ?

 

[Class15]

Maybe it has been stored so long that it is "beyond hope" of working again. Likewise, are the others expected to be repaired, or just sold for "spares" to keep the others working ?

Bulgaria doesn’t have any other 90s?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Are these all operational 90s? Bulgaria are building quite a collection!

 

[Trainz6013]

90028 not included?? AFAIK it's the only other DB one.

Strange, didn't DB do this when Europhoenix bought the 60s, sold all except 60011

 

[childwallblues]

A sad day indeed. Won't be any need for Crewe ETD soon.

 

[ic31420]

I see your point about better than not being scrapped but it is a sad reflection on the current state of the GB rail network. MML electrification was 'Paused' on the pretext that the money would be used for other schemes yet the useful freight fill ins and WCML power upgrades which would have made the 90s attractive domestically are nowhere to be seen.

I suppose on balance if we look at the number of AC freight locomotives active or available mid next year Vs Mid 2025 there will be an increase with the 30(maybe more)99s, 88s and 93s as well as the FL 90s and @ few 92s.

If the 93s and 88s are still in the UK in 2030 might be arguable.

The 99s are showing themselves to be capable and useful all around more useful and capable than 90s.

A sad day indeed. Won't be any need for Crewe ETD soon.

But form the business perspective that might be the aim. Another cost cut.

 

[50002Superb]

A sad day indeed. Won't be any need for Crewe ETD soon.

These haven’t been used in some time and just taking up space.

 

[Harlequinuk]

Its would seem the 90s are going by road to Germany then onwards by rail

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I wonder if these will work passenger services?

 

[JonathanH]

A sad day indeed. Won't be any need for Crewe ETD soon.

What routine work does Crewe ETD do at present? What kind of workforce is there now?

 

[43096]

What routine work does Crewe ETD do at present? What kind of workforce is there now?

For starters...
Class 67 maintenance (for the TfW contract)
Class 92 maintenance

 

[childwallblues]

For starters...
Class 67 maintenance (for the TfW contract)
Class 92 maintenance

Not very much now but I think it still sees DB Class 66 operating in the area.

 

[50002Superb]

What routine work does Crewe ETD do at present? What kind of workforce is there now?

I think they are doing some 197 work there too?

 

[37069]

What routine work does Crewe ETD do at present? What kind of workforce is there now?

They have a wheel lathe which does contract work.

 

[50002Superb]

The latest article from rail.newsuk is now reporting that it will be nine (not eight) of the DB 90s exported to Bulgaria with 90028 also now included:

Rail News UK on Instagram: "It has been confirmed that nine DB class 90s will be given a second chance at life in Bulgaria. 90019/020/024/028/029/034/035/036/037 are currently stored at Crewe ETMD, and were previously listed for sale. Their duties

675 likes, 39 comments - rail.newsuk on September 20, 2026: "It has been confirmed that nine DB class 90s will be given a second chance at life in Bulgaria. 90019/020/024/028/029/034/035/036/037 are currently stored at Crewe ETMD, and were previously listed for sale. Their duties in the...

www.instagram.com

 

[The Welsh Fish]

Shame 90024 is going, always been a massive fan of its Malcolm livery

 

[Forty29]

Good to see being brought back into use even though not UK. Class 66's going there as well first three Friday 9/10.
Is it still expensive to run an electric loco in this country, or just doesn't fit in with DB traction policy, l forget now why taken out of service.
Seeing diesel loco's under the wires still seems bizarre to me. Are the class 86/87's that went to Bulgaria still in use or are the 90's replacing them?

 

[meld3]

Good to see being brought back into use even though not UK. Class 66's going there as well first three Friday 9/10.
Is it still expensive to run an electric loco in this country, or just doesn't fit in with DB traction policy, l forget now why taken out of service.
Seeing diesel loco's under the wires still seems bizarre to me. Are the class 86/87's that went to Bulgaria still in use or are the 90's replacing them?

The 66's went to Romania, the first went earlier in the year, these are the 2nd/3rd/4th out of 25 purchased in total.

 

[Bevan Price]

Most of the WCML freight turns formerly operated by DB / EWS Class 90s are now worked by Freightliner, DRS or GBRF. Indeed, the only regular Anglo Scottish intermodal operated by DB seems to be the Seaforth / Mossend service, and the Seaforth branch is not electrified....

 

[Harlequinuk]

Good to see being brought back into use even though not UK. Class 66's going there as well first three Friday 9/10.
Is it still expensive to run an electric loco in this country, or just doesn't fit in with DB traction policy, l forget now why taken out of service.
Seeing diesel loco's under the wires still seems bizarre to me. Are the class 86/87's that went to Bulgaria still in use or are the 90's replacing them?

That`ll be DB Cargo mismanagement rather than cost. They made the choice to withdraw the electric locos whilst other operators continued to use them

 

[CDM]

Wonder who will refurbish them before export (similar to what happened with the 86/87's). DB or elsewhere. Unlikely they will be exported in current non-working condition.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Europhoenix overhauled the class 87s that went to Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian locomotive maintenance company Express Service owns three class 86s (class 85 in Bulgaria because 86 was already taken). If they are willing to try overhauling class 90s they will probably charge less than a UK company.

Video from Express Service's YouTube channel:

Three locos series 85 (ex Class 86) arrive to factory for light maintenance

 

[Jamesrob637]

Omg 90s hauling ex-DB IC1 cars will be a sight (and sound!) to behold.