Siemens Mobility receives authorisation for Mireo trains in Germany

Credit: Siemens Mobility

In February 2017, Siemens Mobility received an order from the German Ministry for Transport in the state of Baden-Württemberg for 24 Mireo trains and 15 Desiro HC double-decker trains to be operated by DB Regio. This marked the first order for the new Mireo regional multiple-unit trains.

The Mireo has now received initial approval from the German Railway Authority in time for the timetable change in June 2020. Plans call for gradually incorporating the Mireo trains in regional service on the Offenburg – Freiburg – Basel/Neuenburg (Rhine) route, beginning with the timetable change.

CEO of Siemens Mobility, Sabrina Soussan, said: “The new Mireo train, which combines economic viability with sustainability over the entire life cycle of the train, is a successful project for Siemens Mobility. The train received its initial approval from the authorities on schedule and Siemens Mobility has already been awarded a total of seven Mireo fleets and six Desiro HC fleets since its launch. We are delighted that our Mireo and Desiro HC trains will improve passenger experience and the capacity of the Rhine Valley Railway.”

David Weltzien, Chairman of DB Regio Baden-Württemberg, said: “We are pleased that, from mid-June, our passengers will be able to get to their destination in new trains much faster than before in local transport. We connect North Baden from Karlsruhe to Switzerland with an attractive transport concept.”

Along with the 24 Mireo trains, 15 new, comfortable and energy-saving Desiro HC (double-decker) trains from Siemens Mobility will also operate as a regional express on the Karlsruhe – Offenburg – Freiburg – Basel route. These additions will completely restructure the rail offerings in the Rhine Valley – there will then be a clear distinction between the express service between the region’s major cities and a regional or commuter system, similar to the S-Bahn, stopping at all stations.

Baden-Württemberg’s Transport Minister, Winfried Hermann, said: “The new trains for the Rhine Valley Railway make regional rail transport in the region even more attractive and offer an incentive to make greater use of rail, a climate-friendly means of transport. This is another building block in the state’s policy of developing Baden-Württemberg into a pioneer of sustainable mobility.”

The Mireo has been designed as a scalable articulated train. All technical components are installed either beneath the floor or on the roof, making every centimeter of the interior space available for the passengers’ comfort. The three-car trains have 200 seats and a generous number of multipurpose spaces.

The double-decker Desiro HC is particularly characterised by its already proven reliability and very high availability. The trainset is very popular with passengers because of its large capacity and comfort.

Siemens Mobility has designed the Mireo and Desiro HC trains to be especially eco-friendly. The trains weigh approximately 25 per cent less thanks to their lightweight construction, and the design ensures optimised aerodynamics and energy efficiency for each of the components.

Both the Mireo and Desiro HC make optimal use of the energy used and, thanks to modern design principles, achieve a reduction in energy consumption of up to 25 per cent compared to vehicles on the market with the same capacity, and are also designed to be maintenance-friendly.