Siemens has secured a 30-year maintenance contract for 61 battery-powered trains it is supplying for service in Westphalia, Germany.

Scheduled to enter service from December 2029, this will be the second-largest fleet of battery trains in Germany.

Maintenance will be optimised through Siemens Mobility’s Railigent X system, and will build on its current work with the Westfalen-Lippe Local Transport Authority, NWL, in developing railway transport across the Network North Westphalia, NNW.

The trains are being financed by the railway rolling stock leasing company Rock Rail NnW GmbH & Co. KG, and will be leased rather than purchased.

Under the contract, Siemens Mobility will be responsible for maintenance throughout the entire life of the train fleet. Siemens will combine preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance with digital analysis through Railigent X to schedule condition-based maintenance even before trains undergo maintenance.

This procedure reduces downtime, makes maintenance more efficient, and results in reduced operating costs.

Mireo Plus B trains are battery-powered multiple units that are powered from overhead lines on electrified lines, and transfer to battery power on non-electrified sections of line.

“Long-term service contracts are a key factor in ensuring reliable and sustainable rail transport. This contract underscores precisely this importance: with our full-service approach, we are taking on complete maintenance of the Mireo Plus B fleet on the Network North Westphalia, thereby ensuring virtually uninterrupted availability over many years. In doing so, we are laying the foundations for efficient, cost-effective operations whilst also making an important contribution to the decarbonization of rail transport in Westphalia.”

Elmar Zeiler, CEO of Customer Service, Siemens Mobility

Siemens Mobility is also delivering hydrogen-powered trains to Germany, with an order for Mireo Plus H trains to replace diesel trains on the Südostbayernbahn network in Bavaria.

“An attractive rail service needs more than just modern trains. For us, it is crucial that passengers on the Northern Westphalia network continue to benefit from a reliable and efficient service in the future. We are setting the course for this with our long-term service concept. At the same time, the planned investments in regional service and maintenance infrastructure send an important signal for the sustainable development of Westphalia-Lippe as a railway hub.”

Christiane Auffermann, Managing Director, NWL