GERMANY: The use of battery trains on non-electrified routes and a 30% increase in services are included in the next Netz Ostbrandenburg operating contract, which Berlin-Brandenburg transport authority VBB has awarded to incumbent Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn following a competitive tendering process.
A total of 42 multiple-units will be used on the services, including 26 Siemens Mireo Plus B electric multiple-units equipped with batteries for operation on non-electrified sections of line, and 11 existing and five new Pesa Link DMUs for operation on route RB26. This has long non-electrified sections where it is not currently possible to charge batteries from overhead electrification.
Regine Günther, Berlin Senator for the Environment, Transport & Climate Protection, said battery-electric trains would make an important contribution to both climate protection and fleet modernisation, offering greater comfort and providing more seats to make services more attractive to commuters.
Brandenburg Transport Minister Guido Beermann, said the north and east of the Land would benefit from more intensive services and better connections to Poland.
The contract runs for 12 years from December 2024 and covers 6.7 million train-km/year.
| Netz Ostbrandenburg services |
|---|
| Electric-battery multiple-units |
| RB12 Berlin Ostkreuz – Oranienburg – Templin Stadt |
| RB25 Berlin Ostkreuz – Werneuchen |
| RB35 Fürstenwalde (Spree) – Bad Saarow Süd |
| RB36 Frankfurt (Oder) – Beeskow – Königs Wusterhausen |
| RB54 (Berlin Gesundbrunnen/Lichtenberg–) Löwenberg (Mark) – Rheinsberg (Mark) |
| RB60 Eberswalde – Wriezen – Frankfurt (Oder) |
| RB61 Schwedt (Oder) – Angermünde |
| RB62 Angermünde – Prenzlau |
| RB63 Eberswalde – Joachimsthal |
| Diesel multiple-units |
| RB26 Berlin Ostkreuz – Müncheberg (Mark) – Kostrzyn |
- The Land of Brandenburg, Lubusz voivodship and VBB have launched the EU-backed RailBLu project to improve cross-border services. Plans include digital ticketing and measures to improve access to remoter stations.
