Germany: Alstom and VMS Present Battery-Powered Electric Train in Saxony

Alstom and Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS) have presented a new battery-powered train for operation on the Chemnitz-Leipzig line in Central Saxony, Germany.

This unit is one of eleven Coradia Continental battery-electric trains that have been ordered by VMS to start service in 2024.

Alstom presents its new battery train in Germany

These trains will avoid causing local pollution on non-electrified railway lines.

The three-car train is 56 metres long and can seat up to 150 passengers. In battery mode, it has a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour.

The battery-powered train has a range of up to 120 kilometres

Mathias Korda, Managing Director of Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen GmbH (VMS) said:
With the battery trains from Alstom, we want to start into the future of local rail passenger transport. We will be able to run electrically on one of the most important rail routes in the transport association without it already being electrified. Being able to travel cleanly, environmentally friendly and comfortably between Chemnitz and Leipzig is the result of the interplay between regional ownership as a transport association and innovative technology from Alstom.

The Coradia Continental battery-electric train has a range of up to 120 kilometres and can be operated under catenary as well as on non-electrified sections.

Its capacity guarantees catenary-free operation on the Chemnitz-Leipzig line without decreasing performance or comfort.

The new train is equipped with high-performance lithium-ion batteries

The battery-electric trains are being produced at Alstom’s sites in Salzgitter and Mannheim, Germany. Meanwhile, their battery traction subsystem is designed and supplied by Alstom’s Tarbes site in France.

Müslüm Yakisan, President of Alstom Region DACH said:
Alstom’s ambition is to be the global leader in sustainable mobility, reducing emissions and pollution in catenary-free operation. The presentation of the first battery-powered train developed by Alstom is an important step in this direction. With the Coradia iLint, Alstom also has the world’s first hydrogen train in commercial service in its portfolio. With hydrogen and battery trains, Alstom offers its customers two environmentally friendly alternative drive solutions for rail.