Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has placed an order for an additional 24 Desiro ML regional trains with Siemens.
The contract increases the total number of ordered trains to 189.
The three-car electric trains will operate as Cityjet on the S-Bahn railway system in eastern Austria.
Siemens Mobility CEO Sabrina Soussan said: “The Cityjet guarantees a comfortable travel experience throughout Austria. The train’s flexibility offers a wide range of applications.
“The Desiro ML can, for example, be converted to battery-hybrid technology and therefore also be used in the future on non-electrified rail lines.”
Delivery of the new vehicles will begin in mid-2020.
They will be manufactured at Siemens’ German plant in Krefeld, as well as its Austrian unit in Graz. Once completed, the final assembly of the trainsets will be carried out at ÖBB’s Technical Services factory in Jedlersdorf.
Desiro ML trains feature a low-floor design with spacious entry and transition space to ensure convenient boarding. It will also benefit passengers with reduced mobility, as well as those with baby carriages or bicycles.
Capable of operating at a maximum speed of 160 km/h, the 75m-long units will have nearly 22% more seats compared to the current operational trains.
Additionally, every seat will have a reading lamp, electrical outlet and fold-out laptop table with adjustable seating surfaces, ergonomic headrests and armrests.
The S-Bahn trains will feature six doors on each side.
In September, ÖBB and Siemens jointly unveiled the prototype of the Desiro ML Cityjet eco, a battery-powered train.
The train is designed to operate on non-electrified rail lines as an eco-friendly alternative to diesel-powered vehicles.
