Siemens Mobility to supply battery powered Mireo Plus B trains in Denmark

Credit: Siemens Mobility - The Mireo Plus B train

Siemens Mobility has been awarded a contract to supply seven battery powered Mireo Plus B trains to the Midtjyske Jernbaner in Denmark. This is the first contract for battery powered rail in Denmark and is part of a pilot project to replace all diesel trainsets throughout the country. The Mireo Plus B combines all the benefits of the Mireo platform with a high-performance battery system that enables trains to operate on routes with or without overhead power lines thanks to their battery hybrid drive. The seven two-car electric trainsets will be delivered by the end of 2024 and are scheduled to operate on two lines in the Midtjylland region of Denmark.

“The battery trains are expected to enter service at the end of 2024,” Martha Vrist CEO of Midtjyske Jernbaner Drift A/S, said. “This is a crucial step in our own green transition, but also a significant step towards the goal of CO2-neutral train traffic throughout Denmark.”

“With the acquisition of the Mireo Plus B trains, Midtjyske Jernbaner replaces conventional diesel vehicles with state-of-the-art, and locally, completely emission-free trains,” Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility, said. “This will significantly contribute to the local area by offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility option. We are delighted that Midtjyske Jernbaner has chosen the energy efficient Mireo Plus B trains from Siemens Mobility, which will also offer a high level of driving comfort and an improved passenger experience.”

The Mireo Plus B two-car trainsets can accommodate 120 seated passengers, travel up to 140 km/h and has a range of around 80 kilometres when in battery operation. The batteries can be charged via the 25kV overhead line in electrified sections and by recuperating the train’s braking energy. The battery system is mounted underfloor and is installed in two battery containers. Lithium-ion batteries with a long service life are used in this system.

This is the third order Siemens Mobility has received for the Mireo Plus B and the first outside of Germany. The Landesanstalt Schienenfahrzeuge Baden-Württemberg (SFBW) ordered 20 Mireo Plus B trains in 2020 and Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) ordered 31 in 2021. This technology has been extensively tested for over one year through a preliminary version on a prototype train, the Desiro ML ÖBB Cityjet eco in Austria.