German railway company Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL) has ordered 61 state-of-the-art Mireo Plus B battery-powered trains from Siemens for use on the Northern Westphalia Network (NNW).

Railway rolling stock leasing company Rock Rail NnW GmbH & Co. KG is financing the trains, which will be leased rather than purchased. Delivery is scheduled to start in December 2029. With this order, the network will have the second-largest fleet of battery trains in Germany.

The new trains will be battery electric multiple units (BEMU), which charge their batteries on electrified lines and use the stored energy on non-electrified sections using. They are emission-free, energy-efficient, and have regenerative braking, where energy is fed back into the batteries; they are also significantly quieter than conventional diesel railcars.

The trains will be two-car units, with each car 25 metres long, with two doors on each side. Inside, there will be space for two wheelchair users and 18 bicycles.

The new trains will provide a significant improvement in train services in East Westphalia-Lippe and Münsterland, and will have Wi-Fi, numerous power outlets and USB charging ports, comfort lighting, a low noise level, and step-free access.

Christiane Auffermann, NWL Managing Director, commented that locally emission-free, alternatively powered vehicles are the future of local rail transport. In rural regions such as Westphalia-Lippe, battery-powered trains are ideal for bridging sections of track without existing overhead lines in a climate-friendly manner. The new Siemens trains will set new standards for sustainability in regional transport.

Mireo Plus B trains are already in service in the Brandenburg metropolitan region of Berlin, and on the Network 8 “Ortenau” route from Offenburg to Oberkirch in Germany.

“This project is an excellent example of how innovative financing models can accelerate the introduction of state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly rail technology. We are delighted about the partnership with NWL and Siemens Mobility and look forward to making a significant contribution as a long-term lessor to the sustainable transformation of regional transport in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is further proof of our commitment to enabling green mobility solutions.”

Mark Swindell, CEO of Rock Rail

“We are delighted to be driving forward the decarbonization of rail transport in Westphalia with our innovative Mireo Plus B battery trains. The order underscores our leading role in alternative drive systems and demonstrates how we create sustainable solutions with state-of-the-art technology. Together with Rock Rail, we are enabling NWL to offer passengers an environmentally friendly and comfortable travel experience.”

Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility