GERMANY: The first of 56 Alstom Coradia Lint diesel multiple-units for Dieselnetz Köln services was unveiled at Köln Hauptbahnhof on January 15.
The 140 km/h DMUs units have real-time information screens, at-seat power sockets, CCTV, an accessible toilet and multi-purpose spaces for bicycles and prams. The 390 kW MTU powerpacks have AdBlue SCR catalysers for exhaust cleaning and NOx reduction, and it is possible to shut down one powerpack to save fuel.
The 38 three-car Class 620 Lint 81 and 18 two-car Class 622 Lint 54 DMUs are to enter traffic during the coming months on regional services which DB Regio NRW began operating on December 15 2013 under a 20-year contract awarded by four transport authorities.
Alstom was awarded the €325m rolling stock contract in June 2011, but the DMUs were not able to enter traffic with the timetable change because of delays in the vehicle approval process.
The services are branded Vareo, derived from Voreifel, Ahrtal, Rhein, Eifel, Oberbergische Land and Oberes Volmetal. The Köln - Gerolstein - Trier service branded Vareo Eifel will be allocated 30 units, the Vareo Oberbergisches Land service between Köln and Meinerzhagen will get 13 and the Vareo Voreifel and Vareo Ahrtal services from Bonn to Bad Münstereifel and Ahrbrück will use 13 units.
