Regine Günther, Senator for the Environment, Transport
and Climate Protection, the State of Berlin:
“The new trains ordered for regional service will
make a double contribution to protecting the environment: There will be more
train connections and at the same time fewer emissions. Providing more space,
better equipment and features, and a higher service frequency, the regional
trains will become more and more attractive for daily commuting and a real
alternative to private cars.”
Susanne Henckel, Managing Director of the
Berlin-Brandenburg Public Transport Authority (VBB):
“We
have set new standards with the East Brandenburg network and its focus on
alternative drives. The new trains along with the increased service frequency
will significantly improve the offering for passengers. There is, in fact, no
alternative: Environmentally friendly rail must be further supported and
expanded. What pleases me the most is that electric trains with battery storage
systems will operate on many lines in the future. The transport transition and
climate protection are in full harmony: It’s a good day for public transport in
Berlin and Brandenburg.”
Detlef
Bröcker, Managing Director, Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB):
“With the Mireo Plus B from Siemens, we have a high-performance, highly
efficient and innovative train in terms of performance, range and equipment,
and one that’s especially suitable for the partially electrified regional lines
of the East Brandenburg network. With our push toward innovation and providing equipment
that is geared to the needs of our passengers, we’re strengthening climate-friendly
regional rail transport and combining climate protection goals with the
requirements of the transport transition.”
Dr. Elmar Zeiler, Head of Mass Transit and Regional
Trains at Siemens Mobility:
“Sustainability is a very high priority for Siemens
Mobility, which is why we are so pleased with the second order for our
battery-powered Mireo Plus B. Our Mireo is really poplar with customers as well
as passengers. We’ve already sold over 240 trains in this successful series.
This state-of-the-art train delivers passenger comfort and convenience,
reliability, and availability along with climate protection. By using
batteries, the trains can operate on non-electrified railway lines, replacing
diesel-powered trains and making a significant contribution to reducing CO2
emissions.”
Emission-free, energy-efficient, and recyclable trains
for East Brandenburg
In
their Europe-wide tender for the East Brandenburg rail network, the states of
Berlin and Brandenburg clearly focused on alternative drives and reducing
environmental pollution. At present, diesel-powered trains operate on the
network’s routes. By switching to the Mireo Plus B battery-powered trains,
annual consumption of diesel fuel will be reduced by around 4.4 million liters
in the East Brandenburg network. The new trains will also completely eliminate
local CO2 emissions and, depending on the electricity mix, also cut
supra-regional emissions by roughly 11,500 tons per year. At the same time,
they will significantly reduce fine dust emissions.
The battery-hybrid train
draws its energy from the overhead contact line. On non-electrified sections of
the network’s routes, lithium-ion batteries – previously charged on the
electrified sections – provide the train’s power supply. Recovered braking
energy is also used for powering the train. The two-car train has a battery-electric
range of more than 90 kilometers.
More service and comfort for passengers
The East Brandenburg network also meets all the
regional rail transport quality standards set by the states of Berlin and
Brandenburg. The new trains will provide additional passenger-oriented services
with regard to both equipment and service standards.
The
new train cars are equipped with three doors on each side, enabling passengers
in wheelchairs or with buggies to board and exit easier, even on lower
platforms. Three doors on each car side as well as new navigation system in the
train ensure that passenger interchanges at stations are fast, uncomplicated
and, above all, barrier-free.
With the new trains,
passengers on the network’s lines will have available at least 128 seats and
twelve spaces for bicycles, wheelchairs, and buggies. Two or more trainsets can
be coupled and operated as so-called double or multiple units to provide
additional seating capacity.
With the creation of the
new East Brandenburg network, the timetable offering will be increased on some
lines, and the states have order more double trainsets than in the past to be
operated on heavily used lines. The Mireo Plus B has more seats than required
in the original tender.
In the future,
passengers will also have free WiFi access, a real-time passenger information
system, and a specially designated family area. Around 60 electrical sockets
are evenly distributed throughout the two cars, as well as USB charging ports
and locations for inductive charging.
Background:
Siemens
Mobility is setting new standards for environmental integrity with its Mireo
Plus B. Right from the design phase, important criteria were set for materials,
structural design and weight reduction, among other factors, to ensure an
environmentally friendly product. In addition, the number of the train’s components,
materials and wear parts as well as its product packaging were minimized, and
permanent bonds between parts were eliminated in order to ensure maximum
recyclability. As a result, large main sections and finishing components such
as shell, bogies or glass windowpanes can be almost completely separated from the
unusable parts and recycled.
The order will also
include a service and spare parts supply contract over twelve years until 2036.
Siemens Mobility will ensure the availability of the trains over the entire
term of the contract. Part of this service contract is not only to organise the
performance of all necessary maintenance activities, but also continuously
further develop maintenance activities, adopted to the customer-specific use of
the vehicles.
The battery-electric trains will operate on the
following routes:
RB12 Berlin Ostkreuz –
Oranienburg – Templin Stadt
RB25 Berlin Ostkreuz –
Werneuchen
RB26 Berlin-Lichtenberg –
Müncheberg (every second train Mondays to Fridays)
RB35 Fürstenwalde (Spree) –
Bad Saarow
RB36 Frankfurt (Oder) –
Beeskow – Königs Wusterhausen
RB54 Rheinsberg (Mark) –
Löwenberg (Mark) (– Berlin Ostkreuz)
RB60 Eberswalde – Wriezen –
Frankfurt (Oder)
RB61 Schwedt (Oder) –
Angermünde
RB62 Angermünde – Prenzlau
RB63 Eberswalde – Joachimsthal (– Berlin Hbf.)