Alpha Trains will equip an existing fleet of Stadler FLIRT3 regional trains operated by Bayerische Regiobahn in Bavaria (BRB) with the European Train Control System (ETCS). The project covers 35 EMUs and is linked to the new Rosenheimer Kreuz concession, which will be operated between 2029 and 2043.
Alpha Trains, one of Europe’s largest private rolling stock leasing companies, is investing in the modernization of an existing regional fleet in Germany with ETCS. The project covers 35 EMUs Stadler FLIRT3, including seven three-car units and 28 six-car units.
The trains are leased by Bayerische Oberlandbahn GmbH, which operates under the brand BRB – Bayerische Regiobahn. In July 2025, BRB won the tender organized by BEG for the Rosenheimer Kreuz (ROX) concession.
As the owner and lessor of the fleet, Alpha Trains has ordered the trains to be equipped with ETCS, as well as a complete redesign of the interior and a second major overhaul for the six-car units.
ETCS for a regional fleet already in service
Alpha Trains describes the investment in ETCS as an essential technical requirement for the long-term operation of the 35 multiple units on the ROX concession routes.
The work will be carried out with the support of several partners. Talbot Services GmbH, a German company specializing in rolling stock services, will perform the work and coordinate the project. InterEngineer Systems GmbH will handle the technical implementation, from concept development and design through to verification.
InterEngineer will also manage the re-certification process for the converted vehicles to ensure they comply with applicable technical and regulatory requirements.
The on-board ETCS components will be supplied by Siemens Mobility. According to Alpha Trains, the collaboration between Talbot, InterEngineer, Siemens, and its own team brings together technological expertise, industrial experience, and innovative capacity.
Work Combined with Major Overhaul
The project will be organized so that the ETCS retrofit and train redesign are carried out in parallel with the second major overhaul and general inspection.
Alpha Trains says this approach reduces downtime and optimizes vehicle availability for BRB. For passengers, the goal is to maintain smooth and reliable service throughout the new contract.
Dirk Reuters, CEO of Talbot Services GmbH, stated that the project is “technically and logistically challenging,” and that equipping the vehicles with ETCS, alongside InterEngineer and Siemens Mobility, represents “an important step in preparing existing fleets for digital rail transport.”
Alexander Milosavljević, Managing Director of InterEngineer Systems GmbH, stated that the manufacturer-independent selection and integration of the most suitable on-board unit represents “an important step toward greater openness and competition in the rail sector.” He added that the project could serve as a model for future ETCS upgrades.
ETCS Level 2 technology from Siemens
Siemens Mobility will supply ETCS Level 2 technology for the Alpha Trains fleet. Guido Rumpel, responsible for railway infrastructure in Germany at Siemens Mobility, stated that equipping the fleet ensures interoperability, as the on-board units comply with the latest European Baseline 4 specifications.
ETCS, the European Train Control System, is the standardized digital train control technology in Europe. The system is gradually replacing over 20 national systems and enables cross-border interoperability, including on routes to Salzburg and Kufstein.
In addition to increasing safety, ETCS can help increase line capacity and improve operational efficiency in the long term.
Contract through 2043 for the Rosenheimer Kreuz network
The new ROX transport contract and the leasing agreement between Alpha Trains and BRB will be valid from December 2029 to December 2043.
By installing ETCS, Alpha Trains aims to ensure the trains’ compatibility with future digital control requirements on the heavily trafficked routes of the Rosenheimer Kreuz network, including the cross-border sections to Austria.
Bernhard Holzer, CEO of Alpha Trains Europa GmbH, stated that the company sees itself not only as a lessor but also as a technical partner for its 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.
A regional network used by 17 million passengers annually
The Rosenheimer Kreuz network is one of the most important regional transport corridors in Bavaria. It carries approximately 17 million passengers per year and covers about 4.9 million train-kilometers annually.
The network includes the Munich–Rosenheim–Salzburg (RE 5), Munich–Rosenheim–Kufstein (RB 54), and Munich–Holzkirchen–Rosenheim (RB 58) lines.
In addition to technical upgrades, the trains will undergo a complete redesign for the new contract. This will also include the replacement of all seat cushions and covers.
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