Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, and Central Saxony’s transport authority, Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS), presented a new battery-powered train developed by Alstom in Chemnitz, Germany. A total of eleven Coradia Continental battery electric trains have been ordered by VMS. These trains will enter service in 2024 on the Chemnitz-Leipzig line.
“Alstom’s ambition is to be a global leader in sustainable mobility, reducing carbon emissions and pollution. The presentation of the first battery-powered train developed by Alstom is an important step in this direction. With the Coradia iLint, Alstom also has in its portfolio the world’s first hydrogen train in commercial service. With hydrogen and battery trains, Alstom offers its customers two alternative green propulsion solutions for railways,” said Müslüm Yakisan, Alstom DACH President.
“With battery-powered trains from Alstom we want to start the transport of the future in passenger rail operation. We will be able to travel electrically on one of the most important railway routes without it already being electrified. The possibility of clean, environmentally friendly and comfortable travel between Chemnitz and Leipzig is the result of the interaction between the regional transport association and innovative technology from Alstom,” Mathias Korda, Managing Director Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen GmbH (VMS) added.
The Coradia Continental battery electric train has an autonomy of up to 120 kilometers and can be operated both under the catenary and on non-electrified line sections. The three-car trains are 56 meters long and have a capacity of 150 passengers. In battery mode, they will reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The capacity of the high-performance lithium-ion batteries is calculated to guarantee catenary-free operation on the Chemnitz-Leipzig line without sacrificing performance or passenger comfort. The German production facilities in Salzgitter and Mannheim are involved in the production of battery electric trains. The battery traction subsystem is designed and supplied by the Alstom plant in Tarbes, a global center of excellence for green traction systems.