Denmark: Lokaltog signs Stadler deal for FLIRT battery fleet
Danish private rail company Lokaltog A/S, which covers areas of Denmark that Scandinavia’s biggest rail operator DSB doesn’t, has signed a deal with Stadler for 14 battery-powered FLIRT Akku railcars. Set for delivery from 2028, they are designed for small lines that are difficult to electrify, offering hope for decarbonising regional rail in more rural areas like Denmark’s island region of Zealand.
Lokaltog A/S is decarbonising its fleet in the Zealand region. The company has decided to buy a new fleet of FLIRT battery-powered trains from Stadler, which offers an intriguing solution to powering trains with electricity on networks that aren’t fully electrified. On electrified sections of track, the FLIRT Akku runs like a classic electric railcar and charges its batteries in the process. On non-electrified sections, the train continues to run in battery mode — with a range of at least 80 kilometres at a maximum speed of 140 km/h. That makes it flexible for semi-electrified networks like Denmark’s Zealand.
In fact, back in 2021, the train was entered into the Guinness Book of Records after it covered 224 kilometres, setting a world record for the longest journey by a regional train in battery-only mode without additional charging.
The contract, signed earlier this week in Denmark’s Taastrup, covers the purchase of 14 FLIRT Akkus with an option for 10 additional vehicles. They are to be operated on the Tølløsebanen and Østbanen lines, with the potential to extend services to Lollandsbanen and Odsherredsbanen.
From a FLIRT to a fleet
“We at Lokaltog are delighted to have found a supplier for our future battery trains. They are to replace our IC2 vehicles, which have served us well since 1997. These are the trains of the future that we are buying now, and they will hopefully be on our tracks and bringing comfort to our customers for many years,” said Lars Wrist-Elkjær, Managing Director of Lokaltog.
“Today, our FLIRT Akku has won another competition for battery trains. And this one is in one of the European countries with the highest potential for decarbonisation in the railways, due to its low degree of track electrification,” said Ansgar Brockmeyer, Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales at Stadler. “We are thrilled that Denmark is now embracing this innovative solution and proud that with our vehicles we can support our customer on the path to sustainable mobility.”
What does the train mean for regional rail?
Stadler has already sold more than 2,500 FLIRT trains around the world to date, but last month at InnoTrans, it showcased for the first time its battery-electric variant of the trains specifically tailored for Germany’s DB Regio on the Palatinate network. RailTech was in Berlin for the presentation and consequent discussion about how new technologies – particularly battery and hydrogen options – can tackle the issue of decarbonisation on regional networks. Check out our full report here.
And don’t forget Stadler’s hydrogen-battery powered hybrid prototype, the RS Zero.
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