First former Freightliner Class 86/6 reactivated in Bulgaria

The first of the 16 former Freightliner Class 86/6 locomotives which were exported to Bulgaria last year has returned to service following reactivation and modification works by Express Service OOD.

The 16 locomotives – 86604/605/ 607-610/612-614/622/627/628/632/ 637-639 – were exported from the UK last summer, having been progressively taken out of service by Freightliner between the start of 2020 and February 2021, when the final two examples – 86613/632 – were stored.

The classification of the locomotives is being changed to Class 85 under Bulgarian Transport Administration requirements, due to the Class 86 designation already being in use in Bulgaria, although the last three numbers carried in the UK will remain the same. Other Class 86s that were exported to Bulgaria a few years ago for use by Bulmarket were similarly given the Class 85 designation.

First to be completed from the most recent exports is 85632 (the former 86632), which emerged from Express

Service OOD’S workshops at Ruse in early March. The next former Freightliner locomotive to be completed is expected to be 85637, while 86607 and 86613 are currently also undergoing refurbishment and will emerge as 85607 and 85613 respectively The locomotives being returned to working order will be operated by Leveton for the movement of cement products from Svilengrad on the

Express Service OOD Bulgaria/greece border to destinations within Bulgaria.

It is understood that eight of the locomotives exported from the UK last year are now owned by Express Service, while the other eight are owned by Leveton. First-completed 85632 is one of the locomotives owned by Express Service, while the second to be completed, 85637, is one of the Leveton-owned locomotives.

Express Service OOD On March 12, 85632 successfully completed loaded trials on the 1-in-37 gradient between Ruse and Obraztsov Chiflik, the consist being made up of three Class 55 locomotives and four partially-loaded wagons totalling 360 tonnes. The train stands in Ruse Razpredelitelna freight yard. Now renumbered 85632 under Bulgarian Transport Administration requirements, former Freightliner 86632 stands at Vetovo on March 7, undergoing light engine running and braking tests from Obraztsov Chiflik, near Ruse, following completion of its extensive refurbishment by Express Service OOD, after this locomotive and 15 classmates was exported from the UK last summer.