Coradia Stream HC EMUs for NAH.SH

On 24 July 2023 Alstom has signed a contract to supply 40 Coradia Stream high-capacity EMUs to Nahverkehrsverbund Schleswig-Holstein (NAH.SH), the integrated transport association that organises the railway passenger transport in Schleswig-Holstein, on behalf of the state. The order also includes a full-service package for the trains’ maintenance over a period of 30 years. Alstom wants to upgrade the DB workshop in Kiel for this purpose.

The contract is valued at close to 900 million EUR. Furthermore, an option to order up to 55 additional trains with a corresponding full-service package is also part of the contract.

The 106 m long four-car trainsets consist of two double-deck end cars and two single-deck intermediate cars, and can operate in multiple. The 160 km/h units will be operated in the two networks, RE 7/70 Hamburg - Kiel/Flensburg and RB 61/71 Hamburg - Itzehoe/Wrist, each with an individual interior layout providing 360 and 390 seats, respectively, and thus considerably increasing the capacity compared to the trains in service today. Wide double-leaf doors facilitate a fast passenger exchange.

Claus Ruhe Madsen, Minister of Transport Schleswig-Holstein, said: "An important milestone has been reached: these rail lines have the highest number of people in Schleswig-Holstein travelling by public transport. We have to offer these people a strong service in the future. This includes a reliable timetable and modern, high-performance vehicles that impress with their design and travel comfort. We have now created the framework for this and are sending out a clear signal for the transport turnaround in the True North."

The trains are to be built in accordance with the requirements of NAH.SH and introduce various features to improve the passenger experience. With air conditioning using antibacterial and antiviral filters, power sockets and Wi-Fi as well as improved mobile phone reception, they offer numerous amenities to ensure an excellent level of comfort. A seat reservation system and a live occupancy display function further contribute to a pleasant journey experience.

They new Coradias will be equipped with the ETCS OBU and vehicle devices for Automatic Train Operation (ATO). In addition, they will also be predisposed for the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). Final assembly as well as train testing and commissioning will take place in Salzgitter. The engineering is carried out at several sites in France under the lead of Valenciennes as the Train Development Site. The new trains are scheduled to start passenger service in December 2027.