Siemens Mobility has announced the receipt of a major order from the Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG) and the Regionalverband Großraum Braunschweig (RGB) for a set of battery-powered regional trains (BEMU).
The order will include the delivery of 113 three-car Mireo Plus B trains, as well as a 30-year service package and the construction of two Rail Service Centres in Lower Saxony.
Additionally, the contract includes options for up to 132 extra rail vehicles, with the initial fleet set to enter passenger service from the end of 2031.
Michael Peter, President, Siemens Mobility:With the world’s largest order for battery-powered trains, we are working alongside our partners in Lower Saxony to drive forward the decarbonisation of rail transport and demonstrate that sustainable mobility is already economically viable and scalable today.
Our Mireo Plus B battery-powered trains offer emission-free operation, high availability and first-class passenger comfort. In combination with our digital service and maintenance concept, Railigent X, we are laying the foundations for efficient and reliable fleet operation throughout the vehicles’ 30-year life cycle. At the same time, we are investing in service and maintenance capacity as well as skilled local jobs. In this way, we are creating long-term added value for passengers, transport authorities and the region.
Siemens’ Mireo Plus B platform aims to offer a battery-electric solution for both sustainable and economical regional transport on routes that have only been partially electrified. The three-car vehicles, valued at roughly 1.1 billion EUR, seek to enable emission-free operation without the use of continuous overhead lines, reach speeds of up to 160 km/h, and make a contribution to the decarbonisation of rail transport.
All onboard batteries are charged whilst travelling under overhead lines, and, subsequently, enable emission-free operation on route sections without catenary wires. The trains offer two wheelchair spaces, multi-purpose areas, modern passenger information systems and Wi-Fi throughout. They feature seats for over 170 passengers, including a minimum of six seats in 1st class, as well as six bicycle storage spaces per train, which can be expanded to 18 spaces if required.
In addition to vehicle delivery, the contract will include full customer service provisions. The core of the project is a 30-year full-service contract for the 113 battery-electric Mireo Plus B trains, which will see Siemens Mobility assume full maintenance of the vehicles and support a near-hundred-percent operational availability.
The service package will include modern digital services for condition-based maintenance and fleet performance optimisation, comprehensive asset management, supply of spare parts, and maintenance services throughout the entire lifecycle of the trains.
For the Lower Saxony BEMU project, a modern maintenance infrastructure for the battery-electric vehicles is planned for implementation. This will involve a workshop concept encompassing both operational running maintenance of the vehicles and the centralisation of overhauls and heavy maintenance work in a centre of competence.
This will be complemented by additional local facilities for regional vehicle care, with up to 100 future-proof jobs set to be created. The concept aims to combine high fleet availability with economical operational processes, therefore helping to establish a foundation for long-term reliable and sustainable rail transport in Lower Saxony.
