Stadler battery trains for Saarland have been introduced by DB Regio Mitte, Stadler Deutschland and Saarland’s transport ministry for regional rail services.

Stadler battery trains for Saarland routes set
Photo: DB

Passenger trial operations⁠ are planned to begin after vehicle approval, final acceptance and delivery. Regular use on the first routes is planned for October 2026. This keeps the approval and trial phase separate from the staged introduction of regular battery multiple unit services.

Stadler FLIRT Akku rollout starts with first routes

The first scheduled deployments are set for the Saarbrücken–Zweibrücken–Pirmasens route, operating as RB 68, and the Neustadt–Landau–Karlsruhe route, operating as RE 6/RB 51. From November 2026, passenger trials are planned on the Dillingen–Niedaltdorf Niedtalbahn service, RB 77, and on Kaiserslautern–Pirmasens, RB 64.

All Niedtalbahn services are planned to switch to the new battery multiple units in regular operation from December 2026. The conversion programme will then continue in stages, with Kaiserslautern–Pirmasens RB 64, Kaiserslautern–Lauterecken-Grumbach RB 66 and Kaiserslautern–Kusel RB 67 due to follow by mid-2027.

DB Regio Mitte plans phased battery multiple unit deployment

A later stage of the rollout is planned for 2029 and covers Landau–Pirmasens RB 55 and Winden–Bad Bergzabern RB 54. Once the programme is complete, DB Regio Mitte will operate 44 two-car battery multiple units⁠ across the network.

Five battery trains are currently available for preparatory work. DB Regio Mitte is using an existing trial operating permit for test runs and is training about 300 drivers for the new vehicle class, along with maintenance personnel.

Saarland regional services move toward electric operation

In Saarland, the fleet change means that DB Regio Mitte’s regional fleet will become fully electric on the services it operates itself. The battery trains will operate alongside the existing electric rolling stock used in the SÜWEX network and the Saar RB electric network. Diesel-electric SNCF vehicles will remain in use on jointly operated cross-border routes to France.