Stadler's newest service centre in Germany

On 29 May 2024, the Stadler's FLIRT AKKU service centre in Rendsburg was opened, which has been built over the past 19 months in the heart of Schleswig-Holstein. The facility was built on a site totalling 77,000 m² in the north of Rendsburg and comprises a vehicle hall equipped with two tracks including pits, roof work stands and workshops, as well as an external cleaning facility.

The depot was specially designed for the treatment, charging and storage of the batteries that power the FLIRT AKKU trains. For this reason, there are eight outdoor bays with overhead contact line systems where the battery trains can be recharged. Even removed batteries are stored carefully: specially developed diagnostic containers are available for monitoring the train batteries. These collect extensive data on the energy storage systems in order to decide in good time whether additional maintenance measures are required. The signalling technology used on the factory premises also comes from Stadler. There are 30 employess, but there are still a few vacancies to be filled in order to further strengthen the local team in Rendsburg.

‘We are very proud to be able to inaugurate our first workshop for battery-powered trains today. As the manufacturer and maintainer of the FLIRT AKKU fleet for Schleswig-Holstein, we are creating sustainable added value and thus achieving an optimal service life for the train fleet over several decades from a single source,’ explains Daniel Baer, Head of Service Division at the Stadler Rail Group. ‘However, the path to this milestone was not easy and was characterised by the coronavirus pandemic and the tense global political situation. Significant time delays, cost increases and material bottlenecks presented us with additional challenges, which we were able to overcome thanks to the good cooperation with all those involved.’ 

The Schleswig-Holstein local transport association (NAH.SH, Nahverkehrsverbund Schleswig-Holstein) ordered 55 two-car FLIRT AKKUs on behalf of the state of Schleswig-Holstein in July 2019. The BEMUs have been in regular service since October 2023 as the world's first battery-electric train fleet.  The provision of all maintenance and service work over 30 years by the manufacturer guarantees reliable availability.