BATTERY-electric multiple-units (BEMU) entered regular service in the eastern German state of Saxony on February 2. A fleet of 11 class 1440.4 Coradia Continental trains, built by Alstom, is expected to replace all diesel locomotive-powered trains on the 81km Line RE6 between Chemnitz and Leipzig by mid-June.
The new fleet was expected to start running in December 2023, but delivery problems at Alstom delayed entry into service to this year.
The three-car trains have a range of 120km in battery mode and will recharge their 840kWh roof-mounted batteries via pantographs from catenary while stationary at Chemnitz and Leipzig main stations.
The trains will be operated by Transdev-owned MRB on behalf of Mid-Saxony and Leipzig transport authorities VMS and VNL, who co-financed procurement of the fleet, valued at around €70m.
Hesse trials
Separately, trials have started using a BEMU on a non-electrified line in the central German state of Hesse. A class 563 Siemens Mireo Plus B two-car train has been working selected services on Line RB21 between Wiesbaden and Niedernhausen since mid-December, replacing the diagrammed DMU.
The trials by Hessian State Railways (HLB) will last for a year and are being funded by Rhine-Main transport authority RMV. The BEMU is being leased by HLB from Siemens subsidiary Smart Train Lease. According to HLB’s initial findings, the energy consumption of the battery-powered train is around 70% lower than that of diesel trains.
“Around a third of the railway lines in Hesse have no overhead lines and are currently operated with diesel trains,” says RMV managing director, Knut Ringat. “While electrification is the preferred option on heavily-used routes, battery-powered trains allow us to avoid diesel propulsion for new trains, and we plan to introduce them on Line RB21 from 2032 onwards.”
Siemens Mireo BEMUs are already in service with HLB, having been introduced on lines RB90/RB29 last autumn.
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