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Press Release08 April 2024Siemens MobilityOffenburg
Batteries instead of diesel – first trains to into passenger service in Ortenau
SWEG CEO Tobias Harms said: “SWEG not only stands for
quality, but also for innovation. We are especially pleased to now be able to
make these innovative trains available to our passengers and will be demonstrating
our role as a reliable partner to both the state of Baden-Württemberg and
Siemens Mobility.”
Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility, said: “We are
proud that our first fleet of Mireo Plus B battery trains is now going into
passenger service. We would like to thank the state of Baden-Württemberg and
SWEG for their trust and confidence in our innovative and environmentally
friendly technology. By expanding rail transport, we can make an active
contribution to climate protection. The introduction of these highly advanced
trains, which can operate up to 120 kilometers on battery power, marks an
important step towards a sustainable future.”
Where the new trains are runnng
The hybrid trains will initially be used on the routes from Offenburg to
Bad Griesbach and from Offenburg to Hornberg. They replace the diesel-powered Regio
Shuttle RS1. Plans call for gradually extending hybrid service on other routes
in the network. In preparation for introducing the Siemens Mobility trains, the
network timetable was adjusted in mid-December 2023. Since then, trains in the
Kinzig valley, for example, have been running straight through from Offenburg
via Hausach to Hornberg without requiring changes. And passengers traveling to
Freudenstadt usually have to change trains in Hausach, since the battery trains
can serve the Freudenstadt station on the regular schedule only when an
additional switch connection has been installed there.
As a result of the timetable change in December 2023, passenger service
has been improved by closing previous gaps in the schedule. Trains now operate
at least on an hourly basis on all routes from early morning to evening. “With
the new network and the new trains, we are increasing the service frequency and
providing higher capacity. Passengers now have more comfortable and attractive
options for changing trains and boarding – whether in the cities or country,”
noted Minister of Transport Hermann.
Innovative train: the Siemens Mireo Plus B
Powered by green electricity, the Mireo Plus B battery-electric
multiple-unit trains produce no emissions and are extremely quiet. Thanks to
their battery hybrid drive, they can be used on routes with and without
overhead power lines. In the future, when they operate throughout the entire
network and replace the diesel-powered Regio Shuttle, they will slash
consumption of diesel by around 1.8 million liters per year. In battery
operation and under real conditions, the Mireo Plus B has a range of up to 120
kilometers. Its batteries can be recharged from the overhead line and with
braking energy. The battery system, installed beneath the car floor, includes
two battery containers holding lithium-ion batteries with a long service life.
The trainsets have 120 seats and are equipped with a toilet, air conditioning
and spacious special use areas.
About the new technology
Manufacturer Siemens Mobility won Baden-Württemberg’s
open-technology call for tenders for Network 8 with its Mireo Plus B design. This
led to Baden-Württemberg’s State Agency for Rail Vehicles (SFBW) ordering 27
Mireo Plus B two-car, battery trainsets from Siemens Mobility. The trains will
be serviced and maintained by Siemens Mobility for SWEG for about 30 years in
the newly built rail maintenance depot in Offenburg that opened in June 2023.
Condition-based, predictive maintenance of the trains is made possible by the
use of the cloud-based Siemens Mobility Railigent X Suite application. Thanks
to advanced algorithms and data analytics, train operations are optimized and
potential disruptions are detected and handled before they lead to breakdowns.
This ensures 100 percent availability of the fleet. The charging infrastructure
for the new trains was installed by SWEG Schienenwege GmbH at the Achern and
Biberach (Baden) train stations.
About Network 8
Following the timetable change made in
mid-December 2023, Network 8 (“Ortenau”) includes the following routes: Offenburg
– Hornberg/Freudenstadt; Offenburg – Bad Griesbach; Offenburg – Achern –
Ottenhöfen; and Biberach (Baden) – Oberharmersbach-Riersbach. In addition, the
reactivated Hermann Hesse line between Calw and Renningen is planned to become
part of the network as of 2025. All in all, Network 8 handles around
two-and-a-half million train kilometers per year. The state of
Baden-Württemberg awarded operation of the network to SWEG until December 2038.
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 2023, which ended on September 30, 2023, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €10.5 billion and employed around 39,800 people worldwide. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/mobility
Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-GmbH is a company headquartered in Lahr, Black Forest, that operates urban and interurban bus service as well as local freight and passenger rail transport in the state of Baden-Württemberg and neighboring regions. In 2018, the company completed the merger of the Hohenzollerische Landesbahn (HzL), based in Hechingen. The former Abellio Rail Baden-Württemberg GmbH, which now operates as SWEG Bahn Stuttgart GmbH, has also been part of the SWEG Group since the beginning of 2022. More than 1,800 employees work at SWEG.