Siemens Mobility is among the winners of the German Sustainability Award for Design, in the pioneer category, for its Mireo regional and commuter train.
Chosen alongside winners such as Continental and Dyson, Siemens was awarded the prize because the Mireo combined an attractive passenger experience, sustainability and cost-effectiveness on a high level of design and function, said the jury. The judging panel was also swayed by the fact that the Mireo can run on overhead lines or with battery power and with hydrogen fuel cells in the future.
From a design perspective, the jury commended the ’empty pipe’ concept, which allows customers to configure the interior freely and flexibly. The well-conceived concept allows the train to be ordered with different car lengths and floor heights. The jury said the train’s design was exemplary in every regard and could help make travelling by train more attractive for many again.
The Mireo entered passenger service for the first time in June 2020. Since then, Siemens has received orders for more than 180 Mireo trains. The rolling stock manufacturer has also received an order for 20 Mireo Plus B battery-operated trains.
“We are delighted that our Mireo train has won the German Sustainability Award Design in the Pioneers category. The Mireo combines cost-effectiveness and sustainability and is characterized by a very comfortable, barrier-free travel experience for passengers. In addition, the variants Mireo Plus H (use of hydrogen from electrolysis) and Mireo Plus B (use of batteries) give operators the opportunity to switch to climate-friendly alternatives – and therefore actively protect the environment.”
The hydrogen version of the Mireo is currently being developed in collaboration with Deutsche Bahn. This project also focuses on developing the necessary filling stations.
Companies and individuals have to nominate themselves for participation in the German Sustainability Award, which also looks at other categories such as architecture and packaging.
