DB Regio has ordered 19 FLIRT Akku battery electric trains from Stadler to operate on the battery network in Central Thuringia in eastern Germany.
This order, part of a 15-year contract that starts in December 2028 and runs until 2043, will allow trains capable of running up to 80 kilometres without catenary to cover 3.6 million kilometres per year, thanks to the energy stored during the electrified sections.
Incorporating these trains represents a key step towards decarbonising regional rail transport, reducing CO₂ emissions and promoting local emission-free operation.
The new FLIRT Akku offers 160 seats (148 fixed seats and 12 ischiatic supports), platform-high and barrier-free doors, more space for bicycles, wheelchairs, and pushchairs, Wi-Fi, video surveillance, and modern passenger information systems.
Furthermore, these trains will incorporate the new interior and exterior design that the State of Thuringia has created to unify the image of its regional trains. This design will be progressively implemented in the rest of the fleet destined for this region.
