EWS/DB Cargo UK Class 90 Electric Locomotives Remembered

The English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (or EWS) freight operating company which was established in 1996 acquired a fleet of 25 Class 90s from British Rail upon privatisation. Of these, twenty came from Railfreight Distribution and five from the Rail Express Systems parcels and mail sector.

EWS acquired Rail Express Systems following a competitive bidding process.

RES was integrated into the EWS freight operation and ceased to exist as an independent organisation.

EWS continued to operate mail trains using the Class 90s until the introduction of the Class 325 mail units replaced these loco hauled services.

In 2006 an agreement was reached with EWS to supply Class 90s to haul the Caledonian Sleeper over the West Coast mainline into Euston.

In 2015 Serco took over the Caledonian Sleeper franchise, the haulage contract moved to GB Railfreight, which chose to use Class 92s on the WCML.

At various times from the late 1990s onwards EWS Class 90s worked passenger service on both the East Coast, West Coast and Great Eastern mainlines.

In 2016 Class 90s were returned to the East Coast Main Line on Virgin Trains East Coast's London to Newark Northgate, Leeds and Newcastle services, whilst the Class 91 locomotives were overhauled.

By this time EWS had being renamed as DB Cargo UK after a change in ownership.
These arrangement continued by LNER until the 9th June 2019.

In 2018 the open access train operator Grand Central received approval for a new service from Blackpool North to London Euston using refurbished Mark 4 coaches and Class 90s provided by DB.

However, the collapse in the projected passenger numbers for this service following the Covid 19 pandemic meant the service never got off the ground despite some trail workings having already operated.

Until the middle of 2023 DB Cargo UK Class 90s could still be found working a variety of freight trains as well as railtours and charters.

However, due to losing traffic to its competitors, the remaining active Class 90s have now been stored out of service. They have joined the rest of the long-term stored fleet at Crewe electric.

90019 1M16 Inverness - London Euston at Old Linslade 22/4/2015

90019 1M16 Inverness - London Euston Old Linslade at Sandy (Diverted via ECML) 16/7/2013

90019 1M11 Glasgow Central - London Euston Old Linslade at Sandy (Diverted via ECML) 16/7/2013

90026 Norwich - London Liverpool Street at Rivenhall End 4/1/2010

90034 1P33 Norwich - London Liverpool Street at Kelvedon 9/12/2015

90034 1P57 Norwich - London Liverpool Street at Margaretting 24/8/2016

90034 London Liverpool Street - Norwich at Cattawade 23/12/2015

90039 1B88 London Kings Cross - Newark North Gate at Marholm 27/3/2017

90036 1B86 London Kings Cross - Newark North Gate at Brookmans Park 13/10/2016

90039 1B84 London Kings Cross - Newark North Gate at Little Wymondley 15/2/2018

90029 1D18 London Kings Cross - Leeds at Langford 21/7/2018

90036 1D21 London Kings Cross - Leeds at Sandy 21/7/2018

90039 1B85 Newark North Gate - London Kings Cross at Langford 13/12/2018

90036 1B86 London Kings Cross - Newark North Gate at Little Wymondley 13/5/2019

90029+90026 5Z90 Widnes Transport Tech - Wembley Intercity Depot at Headstone Lane 26/6/2020

90026+90020 5Z90 Widnes Transport Tech - Wembley Intercity Depot at Weedon Bec 7/8/2020

90036 6L48 Garston - Dagenham at Ledburn Junction 27/5/2011

90029 1Z70 Carstairs - London Euston at Watford Village 26/9/2011

90036 6X48 Dagenham - Wembley Yard at Ripple Lane 20/2/2012

90020 1Z91 Wembley Central - Warrington Bank Quay at Dudswell 25/8/2012

90029 1M80 Shieldmuir - Willesden at Brookmans Park 30/3/2013

90028+90020 4M25 Mossend - Daventry at Lune Gorge 11/6/2015

90040 6X77 Dagenham Fords - Mossendat Lea Junction/Stratford 18/4/2018

90037+66047 6X77 Dagenham Fords - Mossend at Ledburn Junction 4/5/2018

90039+67005 1Z22 Liverpool South Parkway - Wembley Central at Stowe Hill Tunnel 27/2/2022