GERMANY: DB Regio subsidiary S-Bahn Hamburg has confirmed an order for Alstom to supply a further 64 three-car Class 490.1 dual-voltage electric multiple-units to support expansion of the city’s S-Bahn network.
The order has been placed using the final options on a 2013 contract with Bombardier Transportation — now Alstom — which covered 60 EMUs with options for up to 86 more.
The initial firm order covered 29 Class 490 single-system units for use on the S-Bahn’s 1·2 kV DC third rail routes and 31 Class 490.1 dual-system sets also equipped for use on the 15 kV 16·7 Hz main line network.
An initial option for 12 more single-system sets was exercised in September 2017, and a further 10 single-system units were ordered in December 2018. The last of these units entered traffic with S-Bahn Hamburg in February this year.
The latest batch of EMUs is required to be equipped for ETCS and automatic train operation, and in a minor change to the interiors they will also have an additional multi-purpose area in the centre cars.
The additional order will support schemes including the S4 extension to Bad Oldesloe, the S21 extension to Kaltenkirchen and the proposed S32 western branch to Osdorfer Born, as well as three-tracking of the Harburg line and increased frequencies to support the Hamburg-Takt regular interval timetable.
