Alstom and the Central Saxony transport authority, Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS) in Germany have unveiled a new battery-powered train developed by Alstom.
A total of eleven Coradia Continental battery-electric trains have been ordered by VMS. These trains will enter service in 2024 on the Chemnitz-Leipzig line.
The Coradia Continental battery-electric train has a range of up to 120 kilometres and can be operated under catenary as well as on non-electrified sections of line. The three-car trains are 56 metres long and can seat up to 150.
The new train can also reach maximum speeds of 160 km/h in battery mode. The capacity of the high-performance lithium-ion batteries is calculated to guarantee catenary-free operation on the Chemnitz-Leipzig line without sacrificing performance.
Müslüm Yakisan, president of Alstom Region DACH, said: "Alstom's ambition is to be the global leader in sustainable mobility, reducing emissions and pollution in catenary-free operation. The presentation of the first battery-powered train developed by Alstom is an important step in this direction.
“With the Coradia iLint, Alstom also has the world's first hydrogen train in commercial service in its portfolio. With hydrogen and battery trains, Alstom offers its customers two environmentally friendly alternative drive solutions for rail.”
Mathias Korda, managing director of Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen GmbH (VMS), said: "With the battery trains from Alstom, we want to start into the future of local rail passenger transport. We will be able to run electrically on one of the most important rail routes in the transport association without it already being electrified.
“Being able to travel cleanly, environmentally friendly and comfortably between Chemnitz and Leipzig is the result of the interplay between regional ownership as a transport association and innovative technology from Alstom.”
The battery electric trains will be produced at Alstom's sites in Salzgitter and Mannheim with the battery traction subsystem is designed and supplied by Alstom's Tarbes site.
The addition of the Coradia Continental battery-electric to Alstom’s current zero-carbon fleet which also includes the Coradia iLint hydrogen train.
Photo Credit: Alstom
