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Press Release03 May 2023Siemens MobilityBerlin
Mireo Plus B und Mireo Plus H: new pathways for train design
“We are
especially pleased that we are manufacturing climate-friendly and sustainable
trains powered by hydrogen or batteries for NEB,” said Elmar Zeiler, Head of
Regional Trains at Siemens Mobility. “The Mireo Plus B and Mireo Plus H trainsets
combine innovation and sustainability on rail routes where electrification with
overhead lines is neither possible nor economical. Only by providing a strong
rail presence and alternative types of drives will we be able to make a
significant contribution to combating climate change.”
Exterior design
Graphic artist Sebastian Büsching drew on elements of NEB’s corporate design to liven up the “conventional” exterior design of regional trains in a playful way. Rather than displaying continuous stripes or the rigid, symmetrical shapes typically featured on regional trains, the NEB variant for the Mireo works with informally arranged colored flecks that are only remotely reminiscent of the familiar striped look. Emerging from the solidly colored driver’s cab, blue flecks are increasingly absorbed by light gray flecks moving rearward to the middle of the train. The design is inspired by the idea that regional trains transport passengers virtually around the clock – and the pattern of changing colors symbolizes the transition from night to day.
The horizontal flow of angled, colored flecks reflects the dynamic movement of the train and suggest speed. In effect, the Mireo Plus exterior design symbolizes the coming technological innovations at NEB as well as in the East Brandenburg and Heidekrautbahn networks.
Doors
The two-car trainsets are equipped with three doors on each side, and
each door is 1.3 meters wide. This generous size and the boarding heights of
600 or 800 mm enable passengers in wheelchairs or with strollers to easily board
or exit, even on lower platforms. The doors are framed with yellow and dark
blue borders, meeting the technical specifications for interoperability for
persons with reduced mobility (TSI-PRM).
“A special train deserves a special design,” noted Detlef Bröcker, CEO of
Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn. “The unusual, fresh exterior and interior design of
the Mireo Plus stands for a technologically and ecologically renewed railway
and an attractive, high-performance regional transport system that operates
without CO2 emissions. The Mireo Plus will be a rolling symbol of innovation,
climate protection and the transportation transition in Berlin and Brandenburg
– showing our home is on the move!”
Interior design
Routing & multipurpose areas
The interior design of the Mireo Plus for the NEB begins
outside the doors: A new type of signage helps speed up passenger flows,
especially when there are large numbers of passengers and bicycles. Entry is
primarily through the front and rear doors, each leading to one of two
multipurpose areas (recognizable by the low-set windows). Bicycles are
channeled to exit through the middle door, avoiding interference with boarding
passengers in the front and rear. Large bicycle and wheelchair pictograms outside
indicate the direction of the entry doors. Inside, passengers are guided by
double arrows along the floor.
Seats & family area
The seat upholstery also incorporates two elements of
NEB’s corporate design with its distinctive color scheme and double arrow
pattern and reflects the exterior design on the inside. A family area offers a
variety of activities for children and information for parents, and features a
table embossed with a game.
The Mireo Plus B has 127 seats and standing room for
155 passengers. Both train types provide twelve bicycle spaces and room for two
wheelchairs.
Mireo Plus H and Mireo Plus B: Technological advances for Brandenburg’s regional rail
Both the Mireo Plus H and the Plus B are state-of-the-art
trainsets operating with hydrogen or battery hybrid drives. They feature a 1.7-MW
powered traction system capable of acceleration of up to 1.1 m/s2
and have a maximum speed of 140 km/h. The Mireo Plus H and Plus B trainsets are
designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly: Their monocoque,
welded lightweight aluminum structure, improved aerodynamics, energy-efficient
components, and intelligent electrical system management effectively reduce the
use of resources as well as emissions.
“A new era is beginning in Berlin and Brandenburg for
the East Brandenburg and Heidekrautbahn rail networks. We will be seeing the
shift from conventional diesel-powered trains to extremely ecofriendly trains.
The Heidekrautbahn will even be launching CO2 emission-free operations on
non-electrified routes in the Berlin and Brandenburg regional rail transport
system. The new train design fits this spirit perfectly,” said Thomas Dill,
Division Head, Center for Urban Transport and Quality Management, VBB.
NEB ordered a total of 38 Mireo trainsets with
alternative and environmentally friendly drives from Siemens Mobility in 2021
and 2022. Beginning in December 2024, 31 battery-powered Mireo Plus B trains will
serve in the East Brandenburg network, and seven hydrogen-powered Mireo Plus H trainsets
will operate on the Heidekrautbahn. This will mark the first time that
hydrogen-powered trains are used in Brandenburg and Berlin. The switch from
diesel to hydrogen and batteries will reduce CO2 emissions by around
14.5 million kilograms a year and save around 5.5 million liters of diesel.
The use of hydrogen-powered trains on the
Heidekrautbahn is part of the
Heidekrautbahn hydrogen rail system system, a joint
scientific pilot project funded by the federal government and the states of
Berlin and Brandenburg. The project is setting up a regional, sustainable
hydrogen infrastructure that also includes a hybrid power plant and a tank
system. All train operations on the RB27 are to be powered exclusively with
renewable, regionally generated green energy.
The project “Use of hydrogen fuel cell drives in local
transport in the district of Barnim” is being funded by the federal government
as part of the national innovation program for hydrogen and fuel cell
technology. The program’s funding is being coordinated by NOW GmbH and
implemented by project lead Jülich.
Further information
The Mireo Plus B for NEB is currently in production.
Final assembly of the trainsets is scheduled to begin at the Siemens Mobility
plant in Krefeld at the end of October 2023. In December, the first train will
be delivered to Siemens’ Wegberg-Wildenrath test center. The Mireo Plus H will
be manufactured at the Krefeld plant by July 2023 and subsequently transferred
to the test center in September. A possible press event may be planned for both
trainsets at the North Rhine Westphalian test center at the beginning of 2024.
The new Mireo Plus design will be presented to the
public at the NEB Open House on May 13, 2023, in Basdorf. Until then, photos of
the design and press material are available at the Siemens Mobility website:
https://sie.ag/41KpvsW and the NEB website:
www.NEB.de/Wasserstoffzug. You can find more
information about the Mireo Plus at:
https://tinyurl.com/2p98wxkz.
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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.
Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) provides passenger rail transport in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. The roots of the more than 120-year-old company lie here and are the motivation for providing environmentally friendly rail service between cities and rural areas. Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn AG owns and operates the Heidekrautbahn network north of Berlin and aims at reactivating the main route of the Heidekrautbahn by 2024. The railway company NEB Betriebsgesellschaft mbH operates eleven regional railway routes in northern and eastern Brandenburg on behalf of the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB). In 2021, Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn was again awarded the contract to operate the East Brandenburg network (NOB2) until 2036 and the Heidekrautbahn network until 2034. Further information is available at: www.NEB.de.
Contact
Corinna Schultheiß
NEB Betriebsgesellschaft mbH
+49 30 396011 390