ETCS retrofit for BRB will prepare 35 Stadler FLIRT3 electric multiple units in Bavaria for future operation on the Rosenheimer Kreuz network. The modernization is tied to the new ROX concession, which will run from December 2029 to December 2043.

ETCS retrofit for BRB covers 35 FLIRT3 EMUs
ETCS retrofit for BRB covers 35 FLIRT3 EMUs

Alpha Trains⁠, the fleet owner and lessor, is investing in ETCS equipment for an existing regional fleet in Germany. The vehicles are Stadler FLIRT3 EMUs, comprising seven three-car trains and 28 six-car trains.

The trains are leased to Bayerische Oberlandbahn GmbH, which operates services under the BRB – Bayerische Regiobahn brand. BRB secured the Rosenheimer Kreuz concession⁠ in July 2025 following a tender organized by BEG.

As part of preparations for the new operating period, Alpha Trains has commissioned the ETCS installation. The same programme also covers a complete interior redesign and a second major overhaul for the six-car units.

ETCS retrofit for BRB on an operating regional fleet

Alpha Trains presents the ETCS investment as a necessary technical step for keeping the 35 multiple units in long-term operation on the routes covered by the ROX concession.

Several companies will take part in the work. Talbot Services GmbH, a German rolling stock services specialist, will carry out the works and coordinate the project. InterEngineer Systems GmbH will handle technical implementation, from concept and design to verification.

InterEngineer will also oversee re-certification of the modified vehicles so that they meet the relevant technical and regulatory requirements after conversion.

Siemens Mobility will supply the on-board ETCS equipment. Alpha Trains says the cooperation between Talbot, InterEngineer, Siemens and its own team combines technological expertise, industrial experience and innovative capacity.

Modernization aligned with heavy maintenance

The project is being structured so that the ETCS retrofit and train redesign take place alongside the second major overhaul and general inspection.

According to Alpha Trains, combining these activities will shorten downtime and support better vehicle availability for BRB. For passengers, the intended result is stable and reliable operation during the new contract period.

Dirk Reuters, CEO of Talbot Services GmbH, described the project as “technically and logistically challenging,” and said that fitting the vehicles with ETCS together with InterEngineer and Siemens Mobility is “an important step in preparing existing fleets for digital rail transport.”

Alexander Milosavljević, Managing Director of InterEngineer Systems GmbH, said the manufacturer-independent selection and integration of the most suitable on-board unit is “an important step toward greater openness and competition in the rail sector.” He also said the project could serve as a model for later ETCS modernization programmes.

Siemens Mobility to provide ETCS Level 2

For the Alpha Trains fleet, Siemens Mobility will deliver ETCS Level 2 technology. Guido Rumpel, who is responsible for railway infrastructure in Germany at Siemens Mobility, said the equipment will support interoperability because the on-board units meet the latest European Baseline 4 specifications.

ETCS, or the European Train Control System⁠, is Europe’s standardized digital train control technology. It is gradually replacing more than 20 national systems and supports cross-border interoperability, including on routes toward Salzburg and Kufstein.

Alongside safety improvements, ETCS can also support higher line capacity and better operating efficiency over the long term.

Rosenheimer Kreuz contract runs until 2043

The new Rosenheimer Kreuz transport contract and the leasing agreement between Alpha Trains and BRB are scheduled to apply from December 2029 until December 2043.

Through the ETCS installation, Alpha Trains intends to make the trains compatible with future digital control requirements on the busy Rosenheimer Kreuz network, including cross-border sections into Austria.

Bernhard Holzer, CEO of Alpha Trains Europa GmbH, said the company views its role as more than that of a lessor, adding that it also acts as a technical partner for customers. He described the ETCS retrofit as “a strategic investment in the fleet’s lifespan and in railway digitalization.”

“As one of the first private lessors in the German regional rail sector to take this step for an existing fleet, we are setting a new benchmark. By combining the modernization with the heavy maintenance program, we are offering our long-term partner BRB a highly efficient solution that minimizes operating costs,” said Holzer.

Regional corridor with 17 million passengers a year

The Rosenheimer Kreuz network is among Bavaria’s most important regional transport corridors. It carries around 17 million passengers annually and accounts for approximately 4.9 million train-kilometers per year.

The network covers the Munich–Rosenheim–Salzburg route served by RE 5, the Munich–Rosenheim–Kufstein route served by RB 54, and the Munich–Holzkirchen–Rosenheim route served by RB 58.

Alongside the technical changes, the trains will receive a complete redesign for the new contract. This will include replacing all seat cushions and covers.