GERMAN regional public transport authority Westphalia-Lippe Local Transport (NWL) has ordered a further 10 battery-powered EMUs from Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF.
The additional order is worth €170m, CAF says, and includes fleet maintenance over a term of 33 years.
In June 2021 NWL and its fellow North Rhine-Westphalia transport authority Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR) awarded CAF an initial contract for the supply of 63 battery-powered EMUs and associated maintenance from 2025 to 2058.
NWL is responsible for awarding contracts to operate local passenger services on 58 different routes with a total length of 2000km.
The 10 additional battery-powered EMUs ordered from CAF will operate on lines RB 68 and RB 76 around Münster and Gütersloh, replacing diesel traction on non-electrified routes. The new trains can also operate under 15kV ac catenary.
The battery fleet is expected to enter service over the course of 2025, helping to meet the German federal government’s targets for decarbonising rail transport.
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