A consortium of Siemens Mobility and Stadler has won a contract from Denmark’s state-owned railway (DSB) to supply 226 fully-automated, four-car trainsets with an option for up to one hundred further trains.

This fleet will be the largest open railway system with automated train operation (ATO) in the world, and the contract is worth around three billion euros.

The two companies have these responsibilities in their consortium:

• Siemens Mobility: electrical equipment, including thepropulsion and braking systems, on-board power supply, vehicle and train control systems, passenger information system and vehicle bogies.
• Stadler: car bodies, couplings, interior fittings and seats, air conditioning and doors; final assembly of the trains

Siemens Mobility will also deliver technical support and spares supply through the ‘TSSSA+’ agreement. This includes its service and maintenance concept Railigent X, which it also uses in other contracts, for example in Dortmund and Baden-Württemberg.

The contract will see the first vehicles ready to enter service from 2032. The rest of the fleet will be delivered over the following eight years.

By introducing fully-automated train operations, DSB is aiming to improve the frequency of services on Copenhagen’s S-bahn. Several routes will see up to 35 per cent more departures than at present.

The new S-Bane trains will have large side and front windows. The vehicles will be 56 metres long and free of barriers. They will have 120 seats, 36 folding seats, about 300 standing places, wide aisles and spacious entrance areas..

The trains will have ground-level access without steps, and offer space for bicycles, wheelchairs and prams. There will be modern passenger information systems, including route information displayed outside the trains.

Other features include 2+2 seating configurations, air conditioning, workspaces with tables, and integrated spaces for wheelchair users.

The trains will boast an Air-free Brake System, making them lighter and reducing the CO₂ footprint by over half.

DSB has also signed a contract with the consortium to provide service and maintenance for thirty years, with options for two additional five-year extensions. The consortium will have overall responsibility for maintenance, while DSB employees carry out the maintenance work.

Siemens Mobility is also upgrading the whole S-bane network in Copenhagen to the highest Grade of Automation (GoA4). This will enable driverless operations on the 170-kilometre system.

“This is the largest investment in the 90-year history of the S-Bane. With this investment, DSB takes another important step toward future proofing the capital’s public transport. Increased frequency and capacity will ensure that the S-Bane keeps up with growing demand and maintains its role as the backbone of Copenhagen’s transport network.”

Flemming Jensen, CEO, DSB