AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways is expecting to save around 500 000 litres of diesel a year after it takes delivery of a further seven Stadler Flirt Akku Cityjet battery-electric multiple-units.
The firm order announced on March 12 is the second to be confirmed under a €1·3bn 10-year framework. This covered up to 120 trains and was agreed in July 2023 when an initial 16 units were ordered for use from 2028 on the Kamptalbahn.
Quieter, comfortable and more environmentally friendly
The BEMUs will gradually replace existing diesel trains from the December 2028 timetable change, operating on routes in Niederösterreich including the 44 km Kamptalbahn linking Hadersdorf am Kamp with Sigmundsherberg and the 26 km Erlauftalbahn from Pöchlarn to Scheibbs.
They will use 15 kV 16·7 Hz overhead electrification where available, and the 100 km range on battery power is expected to be sufficient for almost all the non-electrified routes in Austria. They batteries will be recharged while the trains are using overhead power and during the turnaround times at termini.
Operator ÖBB-Personenverkehr said passengers would benefit from significantly quieter, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly trains. The BEMUs will have more than 160 seats, easy boarding, power sockets, USB-C ports, an accessible toilet and spacious multipurpose areas for pushchairs, wheelchair users and bicycles.
