The days of diesel locomotives on the rails are said to be over in a few years on certain routes in the north-east. The keyword is battery train.
Rostock (dpa/mv) - The battery-powered future of Deutsche Bahn (DB) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is still four years away, but there was a first glimpse on Friday. Economics Minister Reinhard Meyer (SPD) made a first trip in a test vehicle from Rostock's main train station. "We are taking the next step in phasing out diesel towards largely emission-free rail transport in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania," said Meyer. The regular start is then scheduled for December 2026.
"Battery trains are an attractive bridging technology, especially when the route network does not have any electrical overhead lines. We need affordable mobility with long-term prospects," said Meyer. Alexander Kaczmarek, DB Group Representative for the states of Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, emphasized: "Today we are moving a step closer to our goal of being climate-neutral as Deutsche Bahn by 2040."
The new trains are to be used on line RB 11 between Wismar, Rostock and Ticino and on line RB 12 between Bad Doberan, Rostock and Graal-Müritz. The era of diesel vehicles should then come to an end on these sections of the route.
The Stadler Flirt Akku trains have an operational range of around 100 kilometers. According to the company, "80 percent of the non-electrified routes in Germany can be used with the regional train in battery operation". The maximum speed is 140 kilometers per hour. There are 99 seats and 12 bicycle parking spaces.
