At InnoTrans, the manufacturer’s consortium of Stadler and Siemens and S-Bahn Berlin presented the first “half train” for German capital’s new S-Bahn fleet. The four-car train will begin operation in 2021 on Berlin’s Ring/Southeast network. The new train can be thoroughly inspected at this year’s InnoTrans, being held on September 18-23. The train itself is a true “Berliner”: it was designed, developed and constructed by two companies that have deep roots in Berlin, and the 106 new trains have been precisely tailored to meet the needs of the city.
“The contract awarded in 2015 by S-Bahn Berlin marks a major milestone for Stadler’s activities in Germany and especially in Berlin. Here, as with all our projects, we are pursuing the highest standards of excellence with regard to quality. As a train manufacturer based in Berlin, we are naturally especially proud to be presenting the first new S-Bahn from Berlin for Berlin. In this project, we’ve combined our experience in trains precisely tailored to meet customer needs with the high quality standards expected by passengers here in Germany’s capital”, Ulf Braker, CEO of Stadler Pankow, commented.
“The new S-Bahn for Berlin combines tradition with high-tech, and carries a young heart beneath its almost hundred-year-old color combination of yellow and red. With its high-redundancy traction drive system, a state-of-the-art power supply system and reliable vehicle control and train protection, we are enabling S-Bahn Berlin to operate its trains efficiently and smoothly,” Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens Mobility said.
“Our anticipation is growing with every step that brings the train closer to its passenger service. We can now share this anticipation with the Berlin and Brandenburg public when it finally gets to see the new S-Bahn firsthand this week,” said Peter Buchner, CEO of S-Bahn Berlin.
One can immediately identify the new train by its typical yellow and red livery. Yet other features are different: the train’s sleek modern front end houses a state-of-the-art driver’s cab with ergonomically designed controls and integrated display screens, and provides the driver with a much better view of the stretch ahead. The car interiors also feature the latest design elements. The 73.6-meter, fourcar half train with 184 seats is completely accessible along its full length, enabling an optimized distribution of passengers. For the first time, the new S-Bahn series being built for Berlin is equipped with an air conditioning system. Due to infrastructural constraints in Berlin’s S-Bahn network – low tunnels and underpasses – a special solution was found for integrating the necessary system components. While part of the air conditioning equipment is located in the ceiling above the seats, other parts of the system are installed beneath the floor. The new passenger information system includes, among other features, a high-resolution electronic display on each side of the car that inform passengers about the train’s route. LED displays outside on the side of the cars indicate the train’s line and destination.
The new trains will operate on Berlin’s Ring/Southeast network beginning in 2021. The pre-series production, comprising five four-car half trains and five two-car quarter trains, is to be delivered in 2020 and enter service on Line S8 (Spindlersfeld to Südkreuz) beginning in January 2021. The remaining 96 trains will be delivered by the end of 2023 and serve passengers on the Ringbahn (Lines S41 and S42) and on Lines S45, S46 and S47. The project “New S-Bahn for Berlin and Brandenburg” is thus right on schedule.
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