Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are introducing battery trains on the Warnow II network for the first time.
Diesel trains currently operate on these routes, but in a step towards emission-free, climate-neutral rail transport, DB Regio will introduce 14 Stadler FLIRT Akku battery-powered trains from December 2026.
These will be deployed on the network’s RB11 (Wismar – Rostock – Ticino) and RB12 (Bad Doberan – Rostock – Graal-Müritz) routes.
Each fully accessible train has 99 seats and twelve bicycle parking spaces, in addition to WLAN and power sockets. The train’s maximum speed is 140 kilometres per hour.
“Replacing diesel multiple units with vehicles with climate-neutral drives is a step towards full decarbonisation of local transport.
“Battery trains are an attractive bridging technology, especially when the route network does not have any electrical overhead lines.
“We need affordable mobility with long-term perspectives, a well-developed rail infrastructure here in the country, which must be promoted and developed.”
DB Regio was awarded a 13-year contract for the Warnow II network in February. Over this time, 35 million kilograms of CO2 will be saved through the use of the battery-electric trains. They also provide economic benefits due to their lower energy consumption and maintenance costs.
DB already uses alternative drives and fuels across Germany, including in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. By replacing its diesel vehicles it’s reducing CO2 emissions by a third.
For bridging non-electrified railway lines, it also relies on overhead contact line islands, as in Schleswig-Holstein.
