The 216 locomotive series had already reached the end of its useful life in the 90ies. After the split-up of locomotives and employees over the business areas, the 216 was operated by DB Cargo, as the freight traffic division was called at that time. As the management - unlike in former years - pinned their hopes to a rapid implementation of the �corporate identity�, many locomotives of all series were repainted even a few years prior to their decommissioning