Class DM'90 "Buffel"

Number series: 50-61
UIC Class: 95 84 5131/32 xxx-x
Number built: 53
Number in service: 12 (Syntus) + 36 (NS) (January 2010)
Introduced: 1996-1998
Axle arrangement: 2'B'+B'2'
Continuous power rating: 2x320 = 640kW
Maximum speed: 140km/h
Weight in working order: 93.8 tonnes
Length: 52.340m
Wheel diameter (new): 920mm
Motors: Cummins NTA 855 R4, 6 cylinders
Transmission: Hydraulic (Voith T211rzze)
Builder mechanical part: Talbot and DÜWAG (Germany)
Builder electrical part: DÜWAG (Germany)
Passenger seating: 12 first and 101 second class

As a replacement for the old (and rebuilt) diesel trainsets Plan X-v (class 161-186) it was chosen to order new quite luxerious trainsets with a high maximum speed - for diesel trains - of 140km/h. These new trainsets have replaced Plan U (class 121) trainsets that are now used for the services previously operated by the mentioned Plan X-v.
The new DMUs are based on the electric trainsets class 2100 (SM'90), but it was chosen to give them a dieselhydraulic transmission instead of dieselelectric. The body is still very similar to class 2100, except for the face which is a new design. Because of this face the train got its official name "Buffel" which means "Buffalo".
The trainsets were built by DÜWAG in Germany, the construction of the body and interior took place at the Talbot factories in Aachen (also Germany), the "main supplyer" of Dutch trainsets. The motors (two 6-cylinder per trainset) are from Cummins, they are an uprated version of the motors used in class 3100/3200 "Wadloper".
From May 1999 new private operator Syntus has taken over the Doetinchem- Winterswijk part of the Arnhem-Winterswijk NS line. For this service they hired four trainsets of class DM'90 (3450-3453). Four more (3442-3445) were hired from NS when Syntus also took over the operation on Arnhem-Doetinchem in 2001, but these have now returned to NS after delivery of additional "Lint" DMUs.
The 3450-3453 are in the same full Syntus livery as the "Lint" DMUs, the 3442-3445 were in the NS livery with Syntus marks as can be seen in the picture at the top of this page.
Now that additional LINT DMUs have been delivered 3442-3445 have been returned to NS, but from December 2003 two more were leased to free LINT DMUs for the new line Zutphen-Hengelo-Oldenzaal. 3450-3453 and 3441-3442 were renumbered 50-55. In April 2005 three more (56-58, former NSR 3438-3440) followed for the service on Arnhem-Tiel. In June 2007 nr. 3437 was renumbered to 59 and came to Syntus, to free two LINT DMUs for use on Almelo-Mariënberg for Connexxion. At the end of 2008 two more were hired from NS to cover for major overhaul of the LINT trainsets in Germany. These were numbered 60-61.