RRX Train – a Siemens Mobility Desiro HC – a Success

The RRX train, a Siemens Mobility Desiro HC, which was unveiled to much fanfare at InnoTrans 2018 entered service on Line 11 between Dusseldorf and Kassel, Germany, on 9 December 2018. Now the project partners have taken stock and the feedback is positive.

The RRX train, a Siemens Desiro HC, at InnoTrans 2018
The RRX train, a Siemens Desiro HC, at InnoTrans 2018 © Railway-News

Manufacturer Siemens Mobility ensures that the 15 RRX trains currently in service remain operational at all times. Siemens takes care of maintenance and servicing at its Rail Service Center in Dortmund.

Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens Mobility, said:

“Our trains and the depot are equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic systems. We are constantly evaluating the data we collect and are able to recognise and prevent potential problems with the vehicles immediately. Consequently we can guarantee a technical availability of the vehicles of almost 100 percent, giving passengers reliable operations. That’s unique in the rail industry.”

The RRX Train’s First 100 Days on Line 11

15 Rhine-Ruhr Express (RRX) trains have been running on Line 11 between Dusseldorf and Kassel in Germany since December 2018, when the new timetable came into effect. The operator for the service is Abellio Rail. Now that the RRX trains have been in operation for more than 100 days, the project partners have evaluated the new rolling stock. It’s good news: operations are stable and the passengers’ feedback is positive. The preparations for deploying the RRX train on Line RE5 as of June 2019 are also going according to plan.

The Minister for Transport in North-Rhine Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, is happy with the RRX service to date:

“The good start of these new trains is good news for commuters. The seamless operation is also down to the hard work of all parties involved. We will now continue to work together to implement the RRX. It will still be years until the infrastructure is fully extended. But we are pushing this task ahead together.”

The Director of Abellio Rail NRW, Rainer Blüm, can look back over exhausting, but successful months:

“We spent a long time preparing intensively for this new task. As a result we can guarantee a reliable service. The vehicle is popular and our train staff receives a lot of praise for the good and friendly service.”

Collaboration between the Partners

It is vital that all parties work well together to ensure successful operations on Line 11. Given that there are a large number of parties involved and many different aspects to focus on, this is a complex task. To simplify it, Abellio Rail NRW and National Express have moved closer together geographically. There is now a fixed position for RRX operators’ staff in the DB Netz office in Duisburg as well as in the Rail Service Center in Dortmund. This way, important planning decisions can be made together.

Ronald R. F. Lünser, Spokesperson, Verkehrsbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR), said:

“The collaboration between the operators and Siemens as the manufacturer is working very well. It is contributing greatly to the fact that the service has settled in so well and so quickly.”

The RRX Train on Line RE5

National Express will begin operating the RRX train on Line RE5 between Wesel and Koblenz on 9 June 2019. It will deploy the train in its double formation with two electric multiple units. This will provide seating for 800 passengers.

Heiko Sedlaczek, Director, Nahverkehr Rheinland (NVR), said:

“The entry into service on Line RE5 (RRX) is an important contribution to improving the situation in the Rhine-Ruhr corridor, which is running close to capacity.

“More comfort and more reliability are good news for the many commuters who travel on this route every day.”

The preparations at National Express are in full swing. The train drivers and guards are undergoing intensive training sessions. The agreement is that as of May 2019 the first RRX trains will take over trips on Line RE5 from the current operator DB Regio NRW.

Marcel Winter, CEO of National Express Rail, said:

“We’re intensively preparing for taking over the franchise and we’re pleased to be able to convince passengers of a reliable service as of June.”

The RRX Project

Even after the RRX train enters service on Line RE5, work on the RRX project will continue. In December 2019 National Express will deploy the train on Line RE6 from Cologne/Bonn Airport to Minden. And in 2020 then the new trains will enter service on Line RE1, between Aachen and Hamm, with Abellio Rail NRW as the operator. Finally, as of December 2020 National Express Rail will take over Line RE4 between Aachen and Dortmund.

The ultimate goal of the RRX project is to have a train every 15 minutes on the Westphalia-Ruhr Area-Rhineland main axis. This, however, is dependent on DB altering and expanding the rail infrastructure.

Joachim Künzel, Director, Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe, said:

“Now that the RRX has entered service on Line RE11, passengers are already experiencing a whole new quality in regional rail services and they’re enjoying some initial improvements in performance. We’ll ensure that this development will continue so that in the end we’ll have a high-performance service for the entire regional rail network in North-Rhine Westphalia.”

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