Alpha Trains and VIAS Rail (VIAS) have signed a leasing agreement for 14 five-car Flirt1 EMUs manufactured by Stadler. Starting in December 2026, these trains will operate on the Emscher Express Network (ENE), which was tendered by the transport authorities Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) and Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL). Both the transport contract and the leasing agreement will run until December 2030.
To offer passengers a modern and comfortable travel experience at the start of the new concession, the trains will be redesigned before being put into operation, which will include intensive cleaning, new upholstery for the passenger seats, and replacement of interior fittings. Some outdated technical components will also be replaced to ensure the vehicles can continue to be used reliably in the future.
The new operator, VIAS, will operate the Flirt1 EMUs on the RE 3 line, the Rhine-Emscher Express, which runs from Düsseldorf via Duisburg, Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, and Dortmund to Hamm – a route already served by these trains today. In the future, they will also be used on the RE 41 line, the Vest–Ruhr–Express, which is currently still operated by DB Regio and runs from Bochum via Recklinghausen to Haltern am See. On both lines, the trains will offer significantly more seating capacity than before and ensure a high level of comfort and customer satisfaction.
“We are delighted that our reliable Flirt1 trains will remain a key part of local transport in North Rhine-Westphalia. By choosing to continue operating and modernising existing vehicles, we – together with our partner VIAS – are making a valuable contribution to sustainable and cost-effective mobility in regional rail transport,” says Bernhard Holzer, Managing Director of Alpha Trains Europa GmbH. ”
Using the trains on both the existing RE 3 line and the new RE 41 line will enable efficient utilisation of the fleet, an important measure for promoting the sustainable development of regional rail passenger transport.
“Reliable vehicles are essential for a successful start of the Emscher Express network. With Alpha Trains, we have a trusted partner who not only provides expert support throughout this project but also offered the ideal addition to our existing FLIRT 1 fleet,” says Thomas Eßer, member of the VIAS management board.
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