Siemens Mobility to provide 540 trains for ÖBB

Siemens Mobility has emerged victorious in the competitive tender to supply Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) with up to 540 new single-deck electric multiple-unit trains. The framework agreement is valued at over five billion euros.

Under the terms of the agreement, Siemens Mobility will be entrusted with the task of delivering an evolution of the Mireo platform. The new commuter trains are slated for deployment in 2028. The forthcoming Mireo trains are designed with a focus on customer satisfaction and environmental responsibility, according to Siemens. The incorporation of numerous innovations ensures an optimal travel experience, while the trains’ low energy consumption and lightweight construction should be more eco-friendly.

The crowning glory of this agreement is the Mireo platform, renowned for its adaptable modular system that impeccably aligns with customer demands. The incorporation of this platform ensures a tailored and optimised train concept. Siemens Mobility also entered into a long-term framework agreement with the State Institute for Rail Vehicles Baden-Württemberg (SFBW), in Germany, valued at approximately 300 million euros. In the context of this deal, Siemens Mobility will deliver 28 Mireo regional trains for Baden-Württemberg as part of the Digital Node Stuttgart pilot project. The first trains are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2025.

Michael Peter, the CEO of Siemens Mobility, spoke enthusiastically about the enduring relationship with ÖBB, stating: “Siemens Mobility and ÖBB have long enjoyed a strong and trusting partnership. We are proud to be delivering further development of the Mireo platform to ÖBB for the company’s new fleets.”

Recently, Siemens Mobility and the Austrian Federal Railways collaborated to introduce ETCS Level 2 operation on 57 kilometres of tracks between Linz and Vöcklabruck. The implementation covers the Linz–Wels–Vöcklabruck and Wels–Haiding line sections. With the ETCS Radio Block Center stationed in Vienna, trains on this route are now digitally monitored and controlled from Linz, marking the inaugural implementation under the new framework agreement unveiled at a Linz press conference.

Under the 400 million euro long-term cooperation framework, ETCS Level 2 system expansion across Austria’s rail network, ETCS Radio Block Centers (RBC) establishment, and ongoing maintenance are regulated. The initiative aims to install 21 RBCs by 2038 for comprehensive fail-safe coverage across the nation’s rail network. Presently, around 300 kilometres of ETCS Level 2 are operational. ÖBB plans a phased expansion to cover 3,700 kilometres by 2026, encompassing lines like the Pottendorf Line, NBS Koralm Line, Klagenfurt–Tarvisio, Bruck/Mur–Spielfeld-Straß, and Linz–Attnang-Puchheim. This expansion strategy also targets boosting capacity on the Vienna S-Bahn and Vienna Central Station routes.

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