New trains on order for Germany’s Saarland regional network

Emerging transport company vlexx GmbH will receive new EMUs to begin operating on the Saar region’s electric rail network by December 2019.

vlexx GmbH awarded the contract to Bombardier Transportation for 21 BOMBARDIER TALENT 3 three-car electric multiple units (EMUs).

“With the expansion of our railway network and our fleet to a total of 84 vehicles, we are ensuring long-term business growth,” explains Frank Höhler, Managing Director of vlexx GmbH. “With the new trains, our passengers will experience much more comfortable rides. Passengers will benefit from many extras, like large panorama windows and a modern passenger information system.”

The new low-noise trains will not only improve the travel experience for passengers, but residents will also benefit from its reduced noise emissions. In addition, the three-car trains feature 160 seats, room for two wheelchairs and nine bicycles. Furthermore for the first time, trains on this route will also be equipped with sliding steps to bridge the gap between the platform and the train while boarding and alighting for a comfortable and safe passenger exchange, especially for passengers with mobility restrictions.

Since December 2014, vlexx GmbH has been connecting more than 10.5 million passengers in the regions of Rhine-Hesse, Nahe, Westpfalz, Saarland and the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. From December 2019, vlexx will also operate the routes from Saarbrücken to Lebach-Jabach, Neubrücke and Homburg as well as the route between Homburg and Illingen in the E-network Saar RB. The new transport contract runs for more than 15 years and covers around 2.3 million train kilometers per year. With more than 300 employees, vlexx also provides local maintenance and repair for the modern vehicle fleet in its own workshop. The company is a 100% subsidiary of the German railway operator ‘Die Länderbahn’ (DLB).