Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 63 | Page 71

INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology

Siemens Mobility provides battery trains for Westerwald railway project

Hessische Landesbahn has opted for three two-car Mireo Plus B battery trains from Siemens Mobility for its Upper and Lower Westerwald railway pilot project . Both routes in the Westerwald require high-performance trains , due to demanding gradients and long nonelectrified sections . With its high drive power , the Mireo Plus B is ideally suited to meet this challenge . Battery-powered trains will achieve substantial CO 2 savings and reduce noise levels and exhaust emissions in the region when they replace diesel trains .

“ I am thrilled about the progress being made in the planned pilot project with batterypowered trains in the Westerwald ,” said Katrin Eder , Minister for Climate Protection , Environment , Energy and Mobility , State of Rhineland-Palatinate , Germany . “ The decision favouring the high-performance battery trains from Siemens Mobility marks a milestone on the long path towards providing climate-neutral public transport in Rhineland- Palatinate . Expanding the use of alternative drives is indispensable for achieving the mobility transition and protecting the climate . We are preparing the road for the public transport of the future .”
The new battery trains will operate on the Oberwesterwaldbahn ( OWB ) from Limburg to Altenkirchen – Au – Siegen , and on the Unterwesterwaldbahn ( UWB ) between Limburg – Montabaur – Siershahn . The OWB route is 115 km long and includes a 75 km stretch without overhead power lines . Plans call for charging the train ’ s batteries in Limburg and on the Au – Siegen stretch . The non-electrified section on the UWB is approximately 35 km long – this enables trains to operate without recharging . The trains will serve more than 50 stations on the two routes and also offers 126 seats and standing room for 156 passengers .
“ We are delighted to have this opportunity to demonstrate that trains offer a really good and green alternative for passenger transport – even on topographically challenging routes and long non-electrified route sections ,” added Elmar Zeiler , Head of Regional Trains , Siemens Mobility . “ The Mireo Plus B from Siemens Mobility is climate-friendly , powerful and quiet and delivers significant CO 2 savings since it replaces diesel with battery power .”
For this project , Siemens Mobility is building three two-car Mireo Plus B battery trains , with three doors on each side to facilitate quick and easy entries and exits . The trains are equipped with pantographs for operating under catenaries and charging batteries – which are also equipped for operating on nonelectrified routes . When operating in battery mode , the range of the Mireo Plus B on topographically challenging routes is about 80 km without recharging . Silicon carbide technology used in the Mireo Plus B contributes to significant energy savings . p
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