European Investment Bank Funds €1 Billion for New S-Bahn Trains in Rhineland

This investment aims to modernize the region's suburban rail services, enhancing both capacity and environmental sustainability.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a substantial €1 billion loan to finance the acquisition of up to 90 state-of-the-art S-Bahn trains for the Rhineland region, encompassing the areas around Cologne and Düsseldorf. This investment aims to modernize the region's suburban rail services, enhancing both capacity and environmental sustainability.

New Train Procurement:

The financing will enable go.Rheinland, the lead special-purpose association, and its junior partner Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) to procure up to 90 advanced S-Bahn trains from Alstom. The first of these new, maintenance-friendly, and energy-efficient trains are expected to commence trials in 2029, with full delivery slated to be completed by 2033.

Train Features:

The new trains will offer significant improvements over the existing fleet. Each unit will feature modern passenger amenities including wheelchair accessibility at both the first and last carriages, enhanced mobile phone reception, WiFi, onboard toilets, and increased passenger capacity with a total of 1,343 seats per train. These enhancements are designed to support future passenger growth and facilitate a transition towards more sustainable rail transport.

Regional Impact:

The Rhineland region, one of Germany's most densely populated and industrialized areas, has long faced challenges with traffic congestion and overcrowded regional trains. This project forms part of the broader expansion of the Cologne rail hub, as outlined in Germany's Federal Transport Plan. It also integrates with the Trans-European Transport Network's Rhine-Alpine and North Sea-Baltic corridors.

Operational Structure:

The new trains will be purchased by go.Rheinland and VRR and will be available for use by various railway companies in the region. This setup aims to foster competition and improve service quality by making the trains available for different operators.

EIB's Commitment:

EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer emphasized the importance of making public transport a more attractive climate-friendly alternative to private cars. The investment in modern and comfortable S-Bahn trains is expected to reduce road traffic, lower CO2 emissions, and contribute to achieving climate goals.

Statements from Officials:

Michael Vogel, CEO of go.Rheinland GmbH, expressed enthusiasm about the financial backing and the forthcoming new era for Rhineland S-Bahn services. Oliver Wittke, CEO of VRR, highlighted the significant upgrades in passenger service and operational stability that the new trains will bring, noting their maintenance-friendly and energy-efficient design.

The EIB's substantial investment in the Rhineland S-Bahn project marks a significant step towards modernizing regional transport and supporting a shift towards more sustainable rail travel. With enhanced features and increased capacity, the new trains are set to improve the daily commuting experience for thousands of passengers while aligning with broader environmental and climate objectives.