FLIRT AKKUs for the Central Thuringia battery network

On 17 April 2025, DB Regio ordered 19 battery-electric FLIRT AKKUs trains for the Central Thuringia battery network. The planned deployment of these BEMUs is a major step towards the decarbonisation of local rail passenger transport in Thuringia. This order is part of a new DB Regio transport contract that runs from December 2028 to December 2043 and covers an annual service volume of around 3.6 million train km. 

The new BEMUs can bridge sections of up to 80 km without overhead lines by using the energy stored during overhead line operation. The trains will have 160 seats, of them 12 perches. For the first time in Thuringia, a binding interior and exterior design was specified for the vehicles, which will gradually be used in other parts of Thuringia to make local rail passenger transport recognisable.

Stadler stated that "it has established itself as the market leader in the field of alternative drive technologies. In Europe alone, 50 % of all rail vehicles with alternative drive systems come from Stadler. It has further expanded its leading position with several successful projects and orders, such as the delivery of 44 FLIRT AKKUs to DB Regio for use on the Palatinate network and a total of 151 FLIRT AKKU BEMUs in Germany."