Following the electrification of the line between Bad Kleinen and Lübeck and the construction of a connecting curve, the trains will also run as far as Lübeck, Alstom noted.
“With our new double-decker trains, we are helping DB Regio to expand its passenger services in the states of Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in a sustainable and modern way,” said Müslüm Yakisan, president of Alstom Region DACH.
“The Coradia Max [which has replaced the former product name Coradia Stream] scores highly in terms of capacity and comfort, providing the best arguments for more green mobility by rail. Passengers in northern Germany can look forward to reliable, spacious, and barrier-free trains.”
Carsten Moll, chairman of DB Regio Northeast, added, “Our Hanse-Express between Rostock, Schwerin and Hamburg is one of the region’s most important lifelines for commuters and day trippers. We are delighted to have won the tender and look forward to the new vehicles. The federal states are investing in state-of-the-art trains in which travelers will benefit from additional passenger information and lounge areas, for example. The RE4 Lübeck - Schwerin and RE2 Lübeck - Rostock lines will add more services to the Hanse Express.”
Compared to the vehicles currently in use in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, the new trains offer passengers up to 50% more seating capacity between Büchen and Hamburg at peak times. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the new lines from Rostock and Schwerin to Lübeck will benefit from the three-car multiple-unit train with a total of 265 seats. The five-car multiple-unit train with two additional double-decker centre cars will have a total of 462 seats. The trains will be produced at the Alstom site in Salzgitter.
The vehicles have a maximum authorised speed of 160 km/h and are equipped for the European Train Control System (ETCS) ex works as well as a combination of high capacity and comfort.