Schleswig-Holstein: Nordbahn to rely on battery-powered trains for local transport in future

As early as the end of 2023, battery-powered trains with electric drives are to be used on important rail routes in Schlesweig-Holstein. Nordbahn wants to use corresponding electric locomotives on local services and has now secured the contract.

Battery-powered trains from Nordbahn from December 2023 in Schleswig-Holstein

Back in 2016, the state of Schleswig-Holstein and the Local Transport Association for Schleswig-Holstein (NAH.SH) launched a special tendering process that was intended to get accumulator trains off the ground in the northern German state. Now, Nordbahn has secured the contract for the so-called “XMU” procedure. XMU stands for X Multiple Unit, meaning vehicles with alternative propulsion, with the X being a placeholder for different types of propulsion.

On April 04, the managing directors of the Nordbahn railroad company, Eduard Bock and Holger Kratz, and Bernd Buchholz (FDP) – Transport Minister of Schleswig-Holstein – signed corresponding contracts that will launch battery-powered trains in the state.

As early as December 2023, a total of 55 electric locomotives are to be used on important rail lines in Schleswig-Holstein, replacing the diesel locomotives currently in use. The electric trains will draw their energy exclusively from green electricity and will be used in local traffic on lines that do not have an overhead line. The battery cells will then be charged primarily at larger stations that offer overhead lines.

Larger network, more comfort

The northern railroad will then serve the two networks, Akkunetz Nord and Akkunetz Ost-West. In the north, which includes the Flensburg-Eckernförde-Kiel, St. Peter Ording-Husum and Husum-Rendsburg-Kiel rail lines, DB Regio is currently still operating. Nordbahn already operates on the Büsum-Heide-Neumünster and Neumünster-Bad Oldesloe lines.

At the same time, Nordbahn also wants to offer additional comfort in the new network and promises, for example, free WLAN inside the trains, power sockets and tables at all seats, more bicycle stands and greater legroom, as well as wider, more comfortable and more modern seats. Interested train drivers can transfer from DB Regio to Nordbahn, but at the same time additional personnel will be assigned to the new battery networks.

“Today’s signatures mark the conclusion of the major contract award procedure for the deployment of accumulator multiple units in Schleswig-Holstein,” Transport Minister Buchholz is quoted as saying. He sees this as an important and major step towards the goal of “Schleswig-Holstein’s local rail passenger transport to 2030 climate neutral to set up”. After all, the newly deployed battery trains ensure savings of around ten million liters of diesel per year and an avoidance of around 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Already at the end of February 2022 informed the northern railroad about to become the largest operator in the “battery network” from 2023.