British company Go-Ahead’s German subsidiary has placed a €400m order to procure 56 regional multiple-unit trainsets from Siemens Mobility.
Siemens will deliver a total of 44 three-car Mireo electric trainsets and 12 five-car Desiro HC electric double-decker trains to operator Go-Ahead Verkehrsgesellschaft Deutschland.
Once delivered, the vehicles will operate on Augsburg rail network’s electrified route in southwestern Bavaria.
Go-Ahead Verkehrsgesellschaft Deutschland CEO Stefan Krispin said: “We are especially pleased to begin operating our fifth network in Germany, Lot 1 of the Augsburg networks.
“The state-of-the-art trains being supplied by our partner Siemens Mobility are an important building block for ensuring high-quality operations that will attract additional passengers to rail transport.”
The Mireo with offer 216 seats, while the Desiro HC will provide 538. They will also have a separate multipurpose area at each car doorway and be designed with a high-frequency window glass to improve mobile reception.
All the trains are barrier-free to facilitate movement for passengers with limited mobility. Additionally, the vehicles will have a lift on board to ensure wheelchair users have easy access at low platform stations.
The trains will also feature a real-time passenger information system offering arrival and departure times, as well as connections at the respective stations.
Both models can be combined during operations, providing the operator with additional flexibility to adapt the vehicles according to the passenger demand.
Siemens Mobility CEO Sabrina Soussan said: “For the first time, we’ll be delivering the trains so both types can be combined in operation. This way, the strengths of both train types can be optimally utilised.”
The trains are expected to enter passenger service following the timetable change in December 2022.
