Railway innovators unveil new electric and dual-mode trains at InnoTrans

At the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin, several major developments in railway technology were announced, focusing on the transition to electric and dual-mode propulsion to reduce emissions.

Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR), in collaboration with NWL and CAF Germany, presented the new Civity BEMU. This battery-electric multiple unit is part of a larger project to acquire 76 trains for the Lower Rhine–Münsterland network. These trains are designed to operate on electrified sections and use battery power on non-electrified stretches, a move expected to reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 30,000 tons annually. The new vehicles will feature modern passenger amenities including Wi-Fi, power outlets, and improved mobile signal reception.

Separately, the locomotive leasing company Railpool signed a contract with Siemens Mobility for 100 Vectron X generation locomotives. The order includes 50 Dual-Mode vehicles capable of operating under overhead lines and on non-electrified tracks using diesel power. Railpool will also be the first customer to utilize specific digital functions of the Vectron X, which features a software-defined platform with a connected driver's cab and an app-store for operational applications. The first locomotives are scheduled for delivery in 2027.