Bombardier to deliver new commuter trains to Deutsche Bahn AG for service in Hamburg

Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation has won an order from the S-Bahn GmbH, a subsidiary of DB Regio AG, to deliver 60 new single and dual-voltage commuter trains. The Hamburg Parliament has confirmed that from December 2018, the S-Bahn Hamburg GmbH will serve as the operator of the S-Bahn network in Hamburg for another 15 years. In a European tender procedure, the S-Bahn Hamburg GmbH awarded Bombardier the contract to supply the vehicles. The order value amounts to approximately 327 million euro ($427 million US). The contract provides the option to order up to 86 further trains until the end of 2018.

This order strengthens the market position of Bombardier electric multiple units in Germany and is the first time that Bombardier has delivered trains to S-Bahn Hamburg GmbH without a partner. Bombardier is committed to providing innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that improve urban flow and help cities across the world to breathe again. Today’s passengers expect convenient and flexible travel options that offer sustainability, easy access, comfort and reliability. Modern trains produced by Bombardier, including the new S-Bahn trains, combine comfort, speed and environmental performance and will encourage more people to switch from road to rail.

The three-car electric multiple units are characterized by their striking and dynamic exterior design. Each car has three double swivel-sliding doors per side, generous entry areas and wide aisles which allow rapid passenger flow. The transparent and passenger friendly interior is designed with convenient seating and fixed stopping for standing passengers. A multi-purpose area features two places for wheelchair users, prams, bikes or large pieces of luggage at each end of the train. Information on connecting trains or changing operating schedules are displayed in real-time via a comprehensive passenger information system.

Valuable experience from the previous series has been incorporated in the development of the new S-Bahn trains. The result is a train with innovative technology combined with low energy consumption as well as low maintenance and servicing costs. The carbody’s optimized design means that the trains do not require sliding steps for gap bridging. For the first time the trains for Hamburg will be equipped with a compact air conditioning system. The heating system operates with an energy saving heat pump which uses waste heat from the traction equipment system to heat the passenger compartments.

The single-voltage trains with a maximum speed of 100 km/h are used on the urban S-Bahn network with 1200 V DC. The dual-voltage trains operate at a maximum speed of up to 140 km/h on route extensions to the suburban regions at an alternating current of 15kV 16,7Hz . This allows the creation of direct routes to the city of Hamburg, without the need to change trains. The first eight vehicles will be handed over to the S-Bahn Hamburg GmbH by the end of 2016 for a 40-week testing period. Upon successful completion they will be finally transferred and the delivery of the remaining 52 trains can commence. The last train will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Design, engineering and final assembly of the trains will take place at the Bombardier plant in Hennigsdorf, Germany. The bogies are manufactured at the Bombardier site in Siegen, Germany.