Almost four years ago, the Swiss train manufacturer won the tender from the Schleswig-Holstein public transport association (NAH.SH) for 55 battery-powered Flirt regional trains. Now, the foundation stone has been laid for a maintenance depot in the far north.
The new maintenance depot in Rendsburg is being built on a 77,000 m² site and includes a vehicle hall with two tracks, pits, and roof access platforms, workshops, an office and social area, and an exterior cleaning facility. The depot was also specifically designed for the treatment, charging, and storage of the batteries that power the Flirt battery-powered trains.
Together with the Schleswig-Holstein Minister of Transport, a time capsule was placed in the foundation of Stadler's newest service center in Germany during the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone. The tender issued by NAH.SH for the delivery of 55 FLIRT battery-powered trains also includes the maintenance of the fleet for 30 years.
Time capsule sunk.
Starting in late summer 2023, the trains will enable the operation of approximately 10 million battery-electric train kilometers on eleven rail lines, representing around 40 percent of rail traffic in Schleswig-Holstein. Stadler is investing around €30 million in the Rendsburg site for vehicle maintenance and aims to create an optimal maintenance, storage, and charging infrastructure for the innovative battery-electric rail vehicles by spring 2024. Up to 30 new jobs will be created at the plant in a modern environment in the coming months.
Minister of Transport Claus Ruhe Madsen stated: "With the battery-powered trains, we are succeeding in more than doubling the number of diesel-free routes in Schleswig-Holstein at a stroke." He added that the maintenance workshop in Rendsburg is a key component for a climate-neutral battery-powered future in the state. "For the city of Rendsburg, the workshop also means that skilled workers can be retained in a future-proof industry. This is a fantastic development for both our climate protection goals and for Schleswig-Holstein as a business location."
Photos: Stadlerrail
NAH.SH Managing Director Arne Beck: “A key factor in ensuring stable operation of the new battery-powered trains is short distances to proper maintenance – and this is now handled by the manufacturer's employees who are thoroughly familiar with the technology.”
In addition to the transfer tracks, eight parking spaces for interior cleaning of the vehicles with overhead lines for recharging the batteries are planned in the outdoor area. Removed batteries must also be stored carefully: Diagnostic containers specifically designed for monitoring the train batteries are provided for this purpose. These containers will be used to comprehensively monitor and analyze the data from the removed energy storage systems in order to determine whether additional maintenance is required.
“We are proud to be able to make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of public rail transport on the non-electrified lines of Schleswig-Holstein with the new maintenance depot, which is precisely tailored to the specific requirements of battery-powered trains, and with the delivery of these innovative battery-powered vehicles,” explains Daniel Baer, Head of Service Division at Stadler Rail Group. "By combining new manufacturing and maintenance, we achieve an optimal service life for the trains over several decades."
Edzard Lübben, Managing Director of Stadler Rail Service Germany: “The road wasn’t easy. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the planning approval was delayed by a year, and the tense global political situation presented us with additional challenges in the form of significant cost increases and material shortages.”
Designed for non-electrified or partially electrified lines, the Flirt battery is versatile. The batteries can be charged while the train is in motion, both at overhead lines and at electrified terminal stations. Additionally, braking energy is stored in the batteries.
