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Press Release03 November 2026Siemens MobilityMunich
Siemens and Lufthansa Technik Defense develop medical evacuation train
Siemens Mobility and Lufthansa Technik Defense are jointly
planning a patient transport train for military medical evacuations (MedEvac)
and civilian disaster response. To this end, both companies signed a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) ahead of the Berlin Security Conference. The train is
designed to transport more than 150 injured or ill patients and provide medical
care during the journey – from basic to intensive care. The partners intend to
develop it in Germany for the German Armed Forces and their NATO allies.
The
train consists of proven Vectouro
passenger coaches from Siemens, which are combined with a Siemens Vectron X or
X Dual Mode locomotive. Lufthansa Technik Defense equips the coaches with
systems from basic stretchers (“litter racks”) to fully equipped intensive care
beds (so-called Patient Transport Units). The train also offers space for up to
90 medical and support personnel. The partners are combining their decades of
experience in rail vehicle manufacturing and aeromedical transport.
From left to right: Steffen Bobsien, Head of Locomotives and Coaches at Siemens Mobility, and Michael von Puttkamer, Vice President Special Aircraft Services and Defense at Lufthansa Technik.
“Our Vectron X locomotives and Vectouro passenger coaches
stand for the highest levels of reliability, availability, and cross-border
interoperability in Europe. Together with Lufthansa Technik Defense, we are
creating a high-performance MedEvac solution that combines state-of-the-art
medical care with the advantages of rail transport. Based on proven
technologies, we are developing a future-proof concept for flexible, fast, and
reliable patient transport,” says Steffen Bobsien, Head of Locomotives and
Coaches at Siemens Mobility.
“Especially
in these challenging times of
geopolitical uncertainty, the capability for medical evacuation is of high
strategic importance, and this applies to both land and air transport,”
explained Michael von Puttkamer, Vice President of Special Aircraft Services and
Defense at Lufthansa Technik. “In Siemens Mobility, we have found a strong
partner to also bring our proven aeromedical solutions to the rail sector,
thereby creating an end-to-end medical supply chain. In this way, we aim to
further strengthen the operational readiness of the German Armed Forces and
their allies.”
The medical technology
for the train has already proven itself in the air: The German Air Force and
other armed forces have been using Lufthansa Technik’s aeromedical solutions
for decades. Among other platforms, this technology for example transforms the
Bundeswehr’s A400M into a “flying intensive care unit.” These standardized
systems are now also to be installed on the train, so that patients do not need
to be transferred between beds when switching between different modes of
transport. The coaches can be flexibly equipped and reconfigured depending on
the mission and care requirements – ranging from basic medical treatment to
intensive care (NATO categories D1 through D4).
Cross-Border
Evacuation
The train concept is based on proven platforms: Vectron X
locomotives and Vectouro passenger coaches are designed for cross-border
operations. Thanks to their pressure-tight construction, the coaches are also
suitable for high-speed routes. This enables the train to transport patients
safely and quickly along the most important European rail routes without the
need to change vehicles at the borders. Additional flexibility is provided by
the combination with a Vectron X Dual Mode locomotive, which can operate on
both electric and diesel power. This ensures the train remains operational even
on non-electrified routes or in the event of an overhead line failure.
Flexible and Cost-Effective over Decades
A key advantage of the concept is its ability to
be converted between civilian passenger service and patient evacuation. This
improves vehicle utilization and increases their cost-effectiveness over their
entire life cycle. The trains are designed for more than 30 years of service
and can be modernized and adapted to new requirements during this time.
For this press release
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, and the use of industrial AI, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make their infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle, enhance passenger experience, and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €12.4 billion and employed around 43,400 people worldwide. Further information is available at:
www.siemens.com/mobility
About Lufthansa Technik Defense
Since 2023, Lufthansa Technik AG has underscored its strategic decision to increase its involvement in the market for the maintenance and modification of military aircraft through its Lufthansa Technik Defense brand. This brand encompasses all defense-related activities for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) and its NATO partners. In this context, the company is part of the industry teams involved in various ongoing modernization and procurement programs for the air and naval forces, such as the Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System (PEGASUS), the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, and the CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter. In addition, Lufthansa Technik Defense has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lockheed Martin, Rheinmetall, and ESG regarding technical support for Germany’s future fleet of F-35 fighter jets. In close cooperation with Siemens Mobility, Lufthansa Technik Defense is also contributing its internationally recognized expertise in airborne patient transport to a rail-based MedEvac concept. Learn more at:
www.lufthansa-technik.com/defense.