GERMANY: Vlexx has awarded Bombardier Transportation a contract to supply 21 three-car Talent 3 electric multiple-units. These will be used from December 2019 on regional services which it is to operate under the SaarRB Lot 2 contract awarded by local transport authorities in Saarland and Rheinland-Pfalz during January.
The EMUs will have 160 seats, including eight in first class, and space for two wheelchairs and nine bicycles. They will have sliding steps to bridge the gap between the platform and the train, and be equipped with wi-fi.
‘With the expansion of our railway network and our fleet to a total of 84 trainsets, we are ensuring long-term business growth,’ said Vlexx Managing Director Frank Höhler on March 31. ‘With the new trains, our passengers will experience much more comfortable rides. Passengers will benefit from many extras, like large panorama windows and a modern passenger information system.’
The SaarRB Lot 2 operating contract covers services totalling 2·3 million train-km/year radiating from Saarbrücken northwest to Lebach-Jabach, northeast to Neubrücke, east to Homburg via Neunkirchen and also from Homburg to Illingen. Some of the services will be operated using Siemens Desiro DMUs until the completion of electrification of the Illingen – Lebach-Jabach route, which is planned for 2024.
