Siemens Mobility Secures 61 Battery Train Order in Germany

MÜNSTER, GERMANY – Siemens Mobility was awarded an order by Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe to deliver 61 Mireo Plus B battery-electric multiple units for the Northern Westphalia Network. Scheduled to commence passenger operations in December 2029, the two-car fleet will replace diesel railcars and operate approximately 7.1 million train-kilometres annually. The total contract value was not disclosed by the procurement authority.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The procurement covers the production and supply of 61 two-car battery-powered Mireo Plus B trainsets financed through a leasing structure with Rock Rail NnW. Each two-car train features 25-metre-long carriages with four doors per side, passenger Wi-Fi, power sockets, USB ports, quiet zones, step-free boarding, and dedicated capacity for two wheelchair users and up to 18 bicycles. The units draw traction power and recharge onboard batteries under electrified overhead lines, switching to battery power on non-electrified alignments alongside kinetic energy recovery through regenerative braking. Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe will deploy the fleet for a minimum operational term of 15 years across Münsterland and East Westphalia-Lippe, though individual maintenance agreement figures were not disclosed.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

The 61-unit Westphalian order establishes Germany’s second-largest fleet of battery-electric multiple units, trailing behind regional procurement programs in Schleswig-Holstein. While financial details for the NWL fleet remain private, the contract follows Siemens Mobility finalizing an agreement on 7 November 2025 to supply up to 200 Desiro DoSto double-deck commuter trains in Switzerland, valued at approximately EUR 2.2 billion (Source: Reuters, 2025). The manufacturer has also secured manufacturing contracts for the United Kingdom’s high-speed rail network commencing production activity in 2025 (Source: Yahoo Finance, 2025). The regional transition from diesel railcars to discontinuous electrification in North Rhine-Westphalia aligns with Germany’s rail equipment market, which is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 4.8% between 2025 and 2033 (Source: Market Research Insights, 2025).

Editor’s Analysis

Deploying battery-electric multiple units allows public transport authorities to eliminate diesel emissions on regional networks without undertaking the capital expenditure required for full overhead catenary construction. The integration of Rock Rail as a private lessor demonstrates that regional German transport authorities are shifting financial risk away from public balance sheets via structured rolling stock leasing. This procurement pattern supports projections indicating that Germany’s rail equipment sector will sustain a 4.8% compound annual growth rate through 2033 as local authorities phase out legacy diesel traction (Source: Market Research Insights, 2025).

FAQ

Q: When will the Mireo Plus B battery trains enter service in Germany?
A: Commercial operations across the Northern Westphalia Network are scheduled to commence in December 2029. The fleet will cover approximately 7.1 million train-kilometres annually across a minimum 15-year operational term.

Q: What is the purchase price of the 61 Siemens trains?
A: The total financial contract value was not publicly disclosed by Siemens Mobility or NWL. Fleet funding and asset ownership are structured under a private leasing arrangement provided by Rock Rail NnW.

Q: How do the Mireo Plus B trains recharge their batteries?
A: The trains charge onboard batteries using overhead catenary on electrified segments while simultaneously drawing traction power. Stored electrical energy and regenerative braking power the vehicles when traversing non-electrified track sections.