The order is part of efforts by DB Regio Rhineland, a subsidiary of DB Regio, to increase passenger services in the region under instructions from Rhineland Transport Association (NVR), North Rhineland Local Passenger Transport Association (SPNV-Nord), and Westfalen-Lippe Local Transport Association (NWL).
The Coradia Lint vehicles, which will be manufactured at Alstom's plant in Salzgitter, are designed for regional and suburban operation and can reach a top operating speed of 140km/h. The two-car trains will have 180 seats, while the three-car version will have 300.
DB Regio Rhineland estimates that by using the 56 new units it will achieve around 7.2 million train-km per year. At present 65,000 daily passengers use the dmu services in the region with ridership expected to increase once the new trains are introduced.
