Greater comfort and more attractive offers for regional rail: 57 new trains will serve the Franconia-South Thuringia and Danube-Isar networks
DB Regio Bayern and train manufacturer Siemens Mobility will put a total of 57 new trains in service in Bavaria beginning in December 2023. Twenty-six Desiro HC trains are currently being built for the Franconia-South Thuringia network, along with 25 Desiro HC double-decker trains and six Mireo trains for the Danube-Isar network. The 18 Desiro HC trains will operate in the Franconia-South Thuringia network as four-car units beginning in December 2023 and eight Desiro HC trains as six-car units in June 2024. They travel almost as fast as the ICE, for example between Coburg and Erfurt at 190 kmh. In the Danube-Isar network, the 31 new trains will inaugurate service in December 2024.
“We requested new vehicles in the tenders for both networks in order to improve passenger comfort, increase capacity and also expand services,” says Thomas Prechtl, spokesman for the management of Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft, which plans, finances and controls regional and S-Bahn transport in Bavaria. “A special treat are the eight trains specially equipped for use on the Bamberg – Coburg – Erfurt high-speed line, which we planned together with the Free State of Thuringia. Their maximum speed will be 190 kilometres per hour.”
Hansrüdiger Fritz, CEO Regional Management, DB Regio Bayern: “Attractive trains and service offers for our customers are a prerequisite for generating more uptake of the climate-friendly railway. To achieve this, we are further increasing the quality of mass transit in Bavaria and are winning additional passengers. Together with our partner Siemens Mobility, we are looking forward to launching this impressive fleet of new trains in Bavaria’s rail networks. Our passengers will benefit from improved services in both networks. On the heavily traveled Nuremberg – Bamberg route, for example, the new trains will significantly increase passenger capacity. From 2024 onward, up to 200 more seats will be available on each train.”
Dr. Elmar Zeiler, Head of Mass Transit and Regional Trains at Siemens Mobility: “Only by providing a strong rail sector can we satisfy the growing demand for mobility and at the same time achieve our climate targets. Siemens Mobility is proud that we will be making a significant contribution here with our Desiro HC and Mireo trains in Bavaria and Thuringia. Both trains stand for enhanced passenger comfort and convenience, maximum availability and sustainability, are highly popular with passengers, and have already considerably improved passenger satisfaction on many routes.”