Revolution in local transport: Parchim receives battery -operated trains!

Revolution in local transport: Parchim receives battery -operated trains!

In a remarkable step towards sustainable mobility, the East German railway company (ODEG) will rely on battery -operated trains from December 2027. Workshop manager Ronald Beck and his team in Parchim, consisting of around 30 colleagues, are already working on the regional shuttles who have been on the Westmecklenburg network for 23 years. On a special trip from Schwerin to Parchim, which was carried out with a battery -operated train, the plans that are of great importance for the future of ODEG were presented. According to Lars Gehrke, managing director of ODEG, Parchim plays a central role as a place of foundation and future of the company, such as Uckermark Kurier reports.

The purchase of 14 trains of the type Flirt of the manufacturer Stadler is an important part of this plan. With a price of around seven million euros per train, an investment is made, which in the long run promises ecological advantages. In order to ensure the infrastructure for these new trains, the company station in Parchim is expanded with a budget of 20 million euros. For this purpose, Ines Jesse, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy, has brought a funding notice from the country of 11.12 million euros, with one million euros from the federal government.

New appearance and modern technology

The new workshop for the battery trains is to be built by August 2027 and grown directly to the existing hall. There, the maintenance of both the new battery trains and the existing diesel regio shuttles will be made possible, which remain interpreted and are being interpreted interim. In order to optimally operate the trains, the depot is equipped with a new overhead line and two quick charging stations. Here the trains can be charged overnight with an output of 50 Hertz and 15 kilovolt; A quick charge in just 15 minutes is also possible.

The Stadler Flirt trains have impressive specifications. They offer a range of up to 100 kilometers in battery mode and can be used in both the overhead line and on unexpected routes. A real plus for passengers is the comfort: the new trains will be barrier -free, equipped with WLAN, sockets for mobile devices and modern passenger ads. In addition, the design of the trains is kept in the beautiful country colors, which strengthens identification with the region.

Sustainable mobility in Schleswig-Holstein

The switch to battery-operated trains is not only an issue in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Also in Schleswig-Holstein, 55 multiple units of the Stadler Flirt Akku model were recently ordered, which will replace the previous diesel trains from 2022, as [Auto Motor und Sport] (https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/verkehr/stadler-flirt-aku- battery-tie-zege-holstein-2019/). These trains can drive about 150 kilometers purely electrically, while in Schleswig-Holstein only 29 percent of the rail network are electrified.

With increasing importance of cabins with overhead lines and the establishment of new charging stations, the course for sustainable train future is set. The long-term construction process is supported by the cooperation between the various actors in the industry, although competitive companies such as Alstom also bring innovations into the market operated with hydrogen. Alstom's lawsuit against the award criteria was rejected by the Schleswig-Holstein Higher Regional Court, which is strengthening Stadler's position in the market.

The ODEG therefore not only takes a significant step towards environmentally friendly traffic in Parchim, but overall in the region and shows that rail traffic will continue to be a green alternative in the future.