Challenging Era Welcomes New Train Developments
New Siemens HFx Trains Set to Transform Düsseldorf's Public Transport
Rheinbahn, the transport company in Düsseldorf, has taken a significant step towards modernising its city rail system with the approval of a contract for the delivery of 91 new HFx city rail vehicles. The manufacturer of these modern trains will be Siemens, as announced today.
The new HFx trains are set to replace the partly 35-year-old red and white city trains of type B80-Alu on all high-floor city rail lines. The delivery of the new vehicles, scheduled for the years 2025 to 2027, will be carried out jointly with Duisburger Verkehrsgesellschaft (DVG).
The new trains stand out with fully enclosed couplings, specially designed vehicle fronts, and electronic collision warning systems. They can accommodate up to 178 passengers, with two multifunctional areas for wheelchairs, prams, or bicycles. Hearing aid-equipped passengers can receive all announcements via inductive hearing loops.
To ensure a comfortable ride, the new trains feature monitors integrated into the ceiling, USB charging stations, and Wi-Fi connectivity. A special lighting concept ensures direct illumination of the door areas and indirect illumination of the seating areas.
The current high-floor trains running through the Heinrich-Heine-Allee/Hauptbahnhof tunnel are older, and the new trains are designed to be visually appealing in the cityscape. Moreover, a 24-year spare parts supply contract has also been concluded for the new vehicles.
The order for the new vehicles has a net volume of approximately 340 million euros. This decision comes after Rheinbahn ended their collaboration with Bombardier due to quality issues and a lack of certification for the Bombardier vehicles. In 2015, Rheinbahn had ordered a first batch of 59 trains from Bombardier, but delivery has been halted due to severe defects.
Klaus Klar, CEO and Works Director of Rheinbahn, stated that the new trains will make public transport in Düsseldorf more attractive for people. He also mentioned that the new trains will help to improve the overall service quality and reliability.
Rheinbahn is facing a record deficit of 150 million euros for the coming year, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and potential cancellations of season tickets for employees. Despite these challenges, the investment in the new HFx trains is seen as a crucial step towards a more modern and efficient public transport system in Düsseldorf.
[1] Source: Bombardier loses Düsseldorf tram contract over quality issues
The investment in the new HFx trains, with a net volume of approximately 340 million euros, will be a significant boost to Düsseldorf's public-transit sector, as the modern vehicles from Siemens are set to transform transportation in the city. In the finance industry, this decision follows Rheinbahn's termination of their contract with Bombardier due to quality issues and a lack of certification for their vehicles, signifying a shift towards more reliable manufacturers in the industry.
