NAH.SH, the public transport authority in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, has signed a contract worth almost €900m with Alstom for the supply of 42 four-car Coradia Stream high-capacity EMUs.
This is an increase on the original order for 40 trains announced in July. The two additional trains were added after an agreement was reached with the Danish Parliament’s Finance Committee for Denmark to financially support extending operations on the Central network in Schleswig-Holstein from Hamburg to Kiel and Flensburg across the Danish border to Tinglev.
The new trains will be deployed on RE7/70 Hamburg - Kiel/Flensburg and RB61/71 Hamburg - Wrist/Itzehoe services on the Southwest network from December 2027. Alstom will also provide full service and maintenance for 30 years while the contract includes options for up to 55 additional trains.
The 106m-long trains will consist of two double-deck end cars and two single-deck intermediate vehicles. The EMUs will be delivered in two layouts, providing 360 seats for the 21 trains that will operate on NAH.SH’s Central network and 390 seats for the 19 sets that will operate Southwest network services, increasing capacity compared with the existing fleets used on these routes. The central network trains will also have dual voltage, 15kV and 25kV, to support operation in Germany and Denmark.
All of the trains will be equipped with onboard Wi-Fi and offer improved mobile phone reception for passengers, air-conditioning, two spaces for wheelchairs, large passenger information displays, and low-floor entry of 760mm at all doors. All single-deck vehicles will be entirely accessible.
NAH.SH says it is currently seeking a vehicle manager for the new fleet, which will make the trains available to operating companies on behalf of the state. DB Regio currently operates routes RE7 and RE70, while Nordbahn operates RB61 and RB71 under contracts due to expire in December 2027. Tendering for future operation of the Central and Southwest networks is underway and NAH.SH confirmed that the process of awarding new 12-year operating contracts is due to begin in the second quarter of 2024.
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