A total of 11 Coradia Continental battery-electric trains have been ordered by VMS. The train has a range of up to 120km and can be operated under catenary as well as on non-electrified sections of line. The three-car trains are 56m long and seat 150 passengers.
In battery mode, they will reach a maximum speed of 160km/h. The capacity of the high-performance lithium-ion batteries is calculated to guarantee catenary-free operation on the Chemnitz-Leipzig line without sacrificing performance or passenger comfort.
The German sites of Salzgitter and Mannheim are involved in the production of the battery electric trains. The battery traction subsystem is designed and supplied by Alstom’s Tarbes site, a world center of excellence for green traction systems, the firm noted.
Müslüm Yakisan, president of Alstom Region DACH, said, “Alstom’s ambition is to be the global leader in sustainable mobility, reducing emissions and pollution in catenary-free operation. The presentation of the first battery-powered train developed by Alstom is an important step in this direction.
“With the Coradia iLint, Alstom also has the world’s first hydrogen train in commercial service in its portfolio. With hydrogen and battery trains, Alstom offers its customers two environmentally friendly alternative drive solutions for rail,” Yakisan added.
Mathias Korda, managing director of VMS, continued, “With the battery trains from Alstom, we want to start into the future of local rail passenger transport. We will be able to run electrically on one of the most important rail routes in the transport association without it already being electrified.
“Being able to travel cleanly, environmentally friendly, and comfortably between Chemnitz and Leipzig is the result of the interplay between regional ownership as a transport association and innovative technology from Alstom,” he concluded.