The first Mireo train for the Rhine Valley has been presented

The first trainset of the new Mireo regional train platform has been completed.

In the coming months, a total of eight pre-production trains will be commissioned at the company’s Test and Validation Center (PCW) in Wegberg-Wildenrath. Before the train is allowed to operate for the first time in Germany’s rail network, an extensive test programme must be completed at the PCW.

In June 2020, the Mireo is scheduled to begin service in the Rhine Valley network in Southwest Germany that is operated by the DB Regio Regional Business Unit of Deutsche Bahn. DB Regio AG has ordered a total of 24 Mireo trains, the first order Siemens Mobility received for the newly developed platform.

“I’m delighted that the innovative and energy-efficient Mireo train concept will be introduced in Baden-Württemberg for the first time in June 2020. This will bring a major improvement in comfort for passengers travelling on the regional Offenburg-Basel route and at the same time be a clear gain for the environment,” said Transportation Minister, Winfried Hermann.

The Mireo will be used for regional service on the Offenburg – Freiburg – Basel/Neuenburg (Switzerland) route during the week, and the Kaiserstuhl region from Freiburg to Endingen/Breisach on Sundays.

“Collaboration among the regional authorities, Siemens Mobility and us has always been trusting, constructive and marked by a spirit of partnership. This will now be paying off for our passengers. With these state-of-the-art trains, we will jointly set new standards for the comfort of our passengers using the Rhine Valley network,” said David Weltzien, Head of Regional Management, Baden-Württemberg, DB Regio AG.

The three-car trains have 220 seats and a maximum speed of 160km/h. Their interior design combines a generous sense of space with comfort and safety, including large displays for passenger information, on-board Internet access and security surveillance systems (CCTV). Passengers will have spacious seating, CO₂ air conditioning and multi-purpose areas with ample space for up to 27 bicycles. Passengers with restricted mobility will have barrier-free access to the toilets. All car doors are equipped with a sliding platform that automatically bridges the gap between the platform and train to ease passenger access.

“Today, just a year-and-a-half after the order was placed, we are presenting the first Mireo for the Rhine Valley rail network right on schedule. This delivery speed is made possible by the intelligent modular system and standard components we use for the train. This new design offers operators profitability over the train’s entire lifecycle,” said Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens Mobility.

The Mireo features an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly design based on a self-supporting, welded lightweight aluminum body shell. The train’s improved aerodynamics, energy-efficient components and intelligent electrical system management help save resources and reduce emissions and noise. The materials used in the Mireo make it possible to recycle 95 per cent of the train at the end of its service life.