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Press Release07 February 2023Siemens MobilityMunich
Battery trains from
Siemens Mobility for the Westerwald
Pilot operation with climate-friendly battery-powered trains
Record performance of powerful Mireo Plus B on topographically challenging Westerwald route
Diesel trains to be replaced by eco-friendly battery trains
Hessische
Landesbahn has opted for three two-car Mireo Plus B battery trains from Siemens
Mobility for their Upper and Lower Westerwald railway pilot project. Both
routes in the Westerwald, with demanding gradients and long non-electrified
sections, require high-performance trains. With its high drive power, the Mireo
Plus B is ideally suited to meet this challenge. Battery-powered trains will
achieve substantial CO2 savings and reduce noise levels and exhaust
emissions in the region when they replace diesel trains.
Pilot operation with climate-friendly battery-powered trains
Record performance of powerful Mireo Plus B on topographically challenging Westerwald route
Diesel trains to be replaced by eco-friendly battery trains
Hessische
Landesbahn has opted for three two-car Mireo Plus B battery trains from Siemens
Mobility for their Upper and Lower Westerwald railway pilot project. Both
routes in the Westerwald, with demanding gradients and long non-electrified
sections, require high-performance trains. With its high drive power, the Mireo
Plus B is ideally suited to meet this challenge. Battery-powered trains will
achieve substantial CO2 savings and reduce noise levels and exhaust
emissions in the region when they replace diesel trains.
Mireo Plus B Network Westerwald
“As Minister
for Climate Protection and Mobility, I am especially thrilled about the
progress being made in the planned pilot project with battery-powered trains in
the Westerwald. The decision favoring the high-performance battery trains from
Siemens Mobility marks a milestone on the long path toward providing
climate-neutral public transport in Rhineland-Palatinate. Expanding the use of
alternative drives is indispensable for achieving the mobility transition and
protecting the climate. We are preparing the road for the public transport of
the future,” emphasized Katrin Eder, Minister for Climate Protection,
Environment, Energy and Mobility, State of Rhineland-Palatinate.
“We would
like to thank those responsible in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and here
in the region for enabling us to contribute to this demanding and exciting
pilot project. We are convinced that this environmentally friendly, innovative
technology is especially suitable for use in difficult, longer uphill stretches
in the low mountains, and are really pleased to have this opportunity to deliver
proof of this capability in everyday operations”, stated Veit Salzmann, CEO
Hessische Landesbahn.
“I’m really
proud that our joint commitment to alternative drives for regional rail
transport in northern Rhineland-Palatinate is bearing fruit. The order from
Hessische Landesbahn as our contractual partner to Siemens Mobility for the
delivery of the battery trains has laid the basis for the innovative trains
with climate-friendly drive to prove their suitability in everyday passenger
service in the Westerwald region. We’re quite excited about the experience and
lessons that the pilot project will provide. This will allow us to take further
decision on the use of alternative drives”, concluded Achim Hallerbach,
District Administrator, District of Neuwied and Head of the SPNV-North.
Elmar
Zeiler, Head of Regional Trains, Siemens Mobility: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to
demonstrate in the Westerwald pilot project that alternative drives offer a really
good and green alternative for passenger transport even on topographically
challenging routes and long non-electrified route sections. The Mireo Plus B
from Siemens Mobility is climate-friendly, powerful and quiet, and delivers
significant CO2 savings since it replaces diesel with battery
power.”
The new
battery trains will operate on the Oberwesterwaldbahn (OWB) from Limburg to
Altenkirchen – Au – Siegen, and on the Unterwesterwaldbahn (UWB) between Limburg
– Montabaur – Siershahn. The OWB route is 115 kilometers long and includes a
75-kilometer stretch without overhead power lines. Plans call for charging the
train’s batteries in Limburg and on the Au – Siegen stretch. The
non-electrified section on the UWB is approximately 35 kilometers long. This
enables trains to operate back and forth without recharging. The trains will
serve more than 50 stations on the two routes.
For this
project, Siemens Mobility is building three two-car Mireo Plus B battery
trains, each with three doors on each side to facilitate quick and easy entries
and exits. The trains are equipped with pantographs for operating under
catenaries and charging batteries, and with batteries for operating on
non-electrified routes. When operating in battery mode, the range of the Mireo
Plus B on topographically challenging routes is around 80 kilometers without
recharging. Silicon carbide technology used in the Mireo Plus B contributes to
significant energy savings.
The spacious
train offers 126 seats and standing room for 156 passengers.
More information about the Mireo Plus B can be found
here.
Siemens Mobility is a separately managed company of Siemens AG. As a leader in intelligent transport solutions for more than 175 years, Siemens Mobility is constantly innovating its portfolio. Its core areas include rolling stock, rail automation and electrification, a comprehensive software portfolio, turnkey systems as well as related services. With digital products and solutions, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle, enhance passenger experience and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €9.7 billion and had around 38,200 employees worldwide. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/mobility.
