Siemens Mobility is setting up a leasing company that promises a flexible rental model for regional trains, called Smart Train Lease GmbH.
The lease model for Mireo Smart trains is an innovative one that offers fast and flexible fleet capacity adjustment, with state-of-the-art battery, hydrogen and multi-unit electric trains on offer, including related maintenance, according to a company press release.
Siemens Mobility has set up the Smart Train Lease GmbH subsidiary to enable customers to flexibly supplement their fleets with state-of-the-art battery, hydrogen and electric multi-unit leased trains. Siemens Mobility’s Mireo Smart trains are available at short notice, are approved for operation and meet all the standards required for modern regional passenger transport.
By providing pre-configured trains and additional services such as maintenance, this new offering provides an economical alternative for rapid and flexible fleet expansion, Siemens officials say. It also allows customers to easily test innovative and sustainable rail technologies. Smart Train Lease GmbH is initially offering this leasing model in Germany and plans to expand it across Europe in the medium term.
Renting trains as easy as renting a car
“The mobility transition has led to an extremely dynamic market for regional trains. Rail operators are now looking for more flexible and quickly available offers, as new technologies make rail transport even more sustainable. By founding Smart Train Lease GmbH, we have created an innovative leasing model for highly standardised regional trains. Its cost position, reliability and fast delivery time make it a new and particularly attractive offer for our customers,” said Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility.
“We want to make renting trains as easy and simple as renting a car, thus helping to accelerate the transition to mobility. This service will further enhance the attractiveness of rail transport for passengers and allow our customers to react quickly to fluctuating demand,” said Benjamin Dobernecker, CEO Smart Train Lease GmbH.
The technological shift from diesel to alternative technologies, such as batteries and hydrogen, is driving significant changes in the market, presenting a number of challenges as well as opportunities. The trend away from private transport in favour of public options, helped in part by Germany’s €49 monthly regional ticket and the simplification of rail travel, has significantly boosted demand for trains. In addition, many private rail companies now offer regional passenger services and are looking for new, more flexible offers with competitive rates to meet their need for new trains without long-term investment commitments. Smart Train Lease GmbH offers such a fast and high-quality solution.
In the rail sector, leases were previously only available on a long-term basis, with terms of more than twelve years and including guarantees of future use or residual value. Until now, there were no offers for short and medium term leasing of multi-unit regional trains or small fleets. In particular, operators could not lease state-of-the-art regional trains with alternative propulsion systems. Smart Train Lease GmbH stepped in to meet this demand and create a new market.
Which trains will be available?
The approved Mireo Smart trains are available immediately. The trains are characterised by low life-cycle costs, low energy consumption and are technologically advanced and optimally equipped. Mireo Smart has a maximum speed of 160 km/h and is available in three variants: electric, battery or hydrogen-powered multiple unit trains. All trains are equipped with the ETCS (European Train Control System) and the promising PZB point train control system. Mireo Smart offers passengers a high level of comfort and convenience, with a capacity of 214 seats, space for 21 bicycles and two wheelchairs, as well as universally accessible toilets. The trains are also equipped with modern air conditioning, WiFi services, a passenger information system, security surveillance systems and large TFT monitors in the entrance areas.
How does the leasing model work?
Smart Train Lease aims to make the rental process as easy and simple as possible, comparable to renting a car. The company offers a standard contract with various service options that best suit the operator’s rail infrastructure and the experience of its maintenance units. By providing centralised fleet maintenance management, even the smallest fleets with short rental terms can be seamlessly integrated into current operations without the need for extensive changes to the existing maintenance organisation. Standard maintenance work can be carried out at any time by existing staff without the need for extensive training, and Smart Train Lease provides direct on-site support for all other activities. The entire train, including its maintenance, is leased as a complete package.
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