InnoTrans 2022 (43)

Siemens in Berlin also presented the four-car Desiro HC for ODEG (Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH), the set with the end cars 3462 129 and 3462 629, the last of the four-car EMUs in the batch (on the front of the end cars there is only an abbreviated designation in the form of 62 129 and 62 629, etc.).

The original contract for 23 EMUs with split into 21 six-car and 2 four-car units was signed on 26 March 2019. The option clause allowed a change in the number of trains and their configuration (extension), which was utilized, so that the final version of the contract was for 29 EMUs, including 15 six-car 3462 001 - 015 (internally referred to as EWA1-6) and two four-car 3462 016 - 017 (EWA1-4A) trains, both from the first order in March 2019, as well as the later ordered 12 four-car 3462 118 - 129 (EWA2-4B) units. There is no technical difference between the EWA1-4A and EWA2-4B versions, they are designated as such only for internal differentiation by the operator. 

The Desiros are destined for the Netz Elbe-Spree (NES) 1 and 4 network, specifically for the lines RE1 Magdeburg - Berlin - Frankfurt (Oder), RE8 Wismar - Berlin - Elsterwerda/Finsterwalde and RB17 Wismar - Schwerin - Ludwigslust, which are operated by ODEG from December 2022.

Both variants of the train consist of single-deck powered end-cars and two or four non-powered double-deck intermediate ones. The four-car unit has a length of 105,252 mm over the couplings, while the six-car one has a length of 157,252 mm. The end-cars have a length of 26,226 mm and the intermediate ones of 25,200 mm, with a bodyshell width of 2,820 mm.

The end cars have two Type SF 500 bogies, i. e. with a maximum design speed of 350 km/h, which can also be found on the Velaro and ICE 4 high speed trains. The bogies have a wheelbase of 2,500 mm and are fitted with two 500 kW traction motors. The wheelsets are guided by swinging arms, the primary suspension is made of steel coil springs, the secondary suspension is pneumatic. 

The intermediate cars have two Type SF 100 bogies with a maximum design speed of 249 km/h, a wheelbase of 2,500 mm and wheels with a diameter of 920 mm (when new). The wheelset guiding is again by swinging arms, the primary suspension is provided by steel coil springs supplemented by rubber-coil elements for better acoustic insulation. The secondary suspension is pneumatic. The four-car set has a service weight of 205 t, while that of the six-car EMUs is 290 t. 

The trains with a maximum speed of 160 km/h are designed for a 15 kV 16.7 Hz and in both cases they have a 4,000 kW traction power, giving the shorter Desiro HCs a starting acceleration of 1.1 m/s² while the that of the longer ones 0.91 m/s². The traction equipment and most of the components are located on the roof of the end cars. Both the train control system and other communication lines between components use Ethernet. The four-car units can be operated in double traction, the six-car units only separately.

Barrier-free boarding is possible into marked cars from platforms with a height of 610 and 730 mm above the TOR. The interior is air-conditioned, LED-lit and monitored by CCTV. Passengers can connect to the internet via on-board WiFi. There are power sockets and USB-A ports at the seats for personal electronics charging. The four-car units have 390 seats, 25 of which are in first class, located on the upper deck of one of the intermediate cars. There are also two standard toilets and one barrier-free toilet in the train, located in the same car as the 1st class compartment. There are also spaces for bicycles in the end cars. 

The six-car units then have 637 seats, 50 of which are in first class. The latter is situated in the upper floors of two intermediate cars in the centre of the train. The longer EMUs have four standard toilets and two wheelchair accessible toilets, again in the carriages where there is also 1st class is located.

After the start of commercial service, some passengers experienced the problem with the folding seats adjacent to the wall of the large toilet, when there dropped small flat objects, typically mobile phones, into the gap between the seat and the backrest when the seats were reclined. As the objects were thus trapped behind the wall panelling, the affected passengers could not retrieve them themselves and had to seek assistance from the operator, which meant waiting for several days. In the first month of Desiro HCs regular service since 11 December 2022, twenty cases of "lost" phones were reported, so ODEG even assigned some staff to ensure the devices were retrieved expeditiously. Therefore, in collaboration with Siemens, a solution of cladding the critical area of seats was proposed, which was implemented for all units by the end of March.