Further 14 trains, which can use battery power, will run in the north-east of Germany. This is the third order to replace existing diesel locomotives on these lines. Over the next five years, Stadler will deliver at least 113 vehicles with alternative drives. The two-part vehicles for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will enter service from December 2026.
The FLIRT Akku has 99 seats. Two spacious and accessible multi-purpose areas are designed for wheelchairs, prams and bicycles. The air-conditioned carriages also have an accessible toilet. All trains are equipped with WLAN, electrical sockets as well as a camera system for monitoring passenger areas and a modern passenger information system, ensuring a contemporary ride comfort.
"With this new order for battery vehicles from Deutsche Bahn, we have further strengthened our market leadership in the field of alternative propulsion. Since 2019, Stadler has sold 113 vehicles with alternative drives in Germany. We are very proud that our FLIRT Akku not only makes an ecological and innovative contribution to climate-friendly transport policy, but also significantly increases efficiency. Considering the average lifetime of a railway vehicle is around 30 years, battery-powered vehicles are more economical than diesel-powered trains," said Jure Mikolčić, Managing Director of Stadler Germany.
The two-part FLIRT Akku vehicles will be in service for 13 years and are adapted to the needs of the network that runs along part of the Baltic Sea coast. The H Warnow network provides services of 1.5 million train kilometres per year and covers the RB11 between Wismar - Rostock - Tessin and the RB12 between Bad Doberan - Rostock - Graal-Müritz. These routes will therefore be able to be operated locally and completely emission-free - without the need to install overhead lines throughout the network.
