Denmark: Lokaltog signs Stadler deal for FLIRT battery fleet

Lokaltog Stadler Flirt Akku battery train impression. Stadler.
This is what the Lokaltog Stadler Flirt Akku battery train is set to look like. Stadler.

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.

Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Sales at Stadler (left), signs the contract together with Lokaltog's chairman of the board, Dorthe Nøhr Pedersen. Behind them is Michael Schwarz, Director of Marketing and Sales at Stadler in the Nordic countries, together with Lars Wrist-Elkjær (right), CEO of Lokaltog.
Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Sales at Stadler (left), signs the contract together with Lokaltog’s chairman of the board, Dorthe Nøhr Pedersen. Behind them is Michael Schwarz, Director of Marketing and Sales at Stadler in the Nordic countries, together with Lars Wrist-Elkjær (right), CEO of Lokaltog. 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.

Curious about the latest technologies in the rail sector and how they’re being applied? Join RailTech’s Intelligent Rail Summit ‘24 in Tallinn. Running from 12 to 13 November in Estonia – one of the founding nations behind Rail Baltica – the conference will feature a slew of industry experts discussing how cutting-edge technology can be meaningfully employed along Europe’s tracks.

From the real-life application of AI to the twists and turns of the continent’s most ambitious infrastructure project, come and help us shape the future of the rail sector. Find out more about the exciting programme here.

Read more:

Author: Thomas Wintle

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Denmark: Lokaltog signs Stadler deal for FLIRT battery fleet

Denmark: Lokaltog signs Stadler deal for FLIRT battery fleet

Lokaltog Stadler Flirt Akku battery train impression. Stadler.
This is what the Lokaltog Stadler Flirt Akku battery train is set to look like. Stadler.

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.

Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Sales at Stadler (left), signs the contract together with Lokaltog's chairman of the board, Dorthe Nøhr Pedersen. Behind them is Michael Schwarz, Director of Marketing and Sales at Stadler in the Nordic countries, together with Lars Wrist-Elkjær (right), CEO of Lokaltog.
Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Sales at Stadler (left), signs the contract together with Lokaltog’s chairman of the board, Dorthe Nøhr Pedersen. Behind them is Michael Schwarz, Director of Marketing and Sales at Stadler in the Nordic countries, together with Lars Wrist-Elkjær (right), CEO of Lokaltog. 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.

Curious about the latest technologies in the rail sector and how they’re being applied? Join RailTech’s Intelligent Rail Summit ‘24 in Tallinn. Running from 12 to 13 November in Estonia – one of the founding nations behind Rail Baltica – the conference will feature a slew of industry experts discussing how cutting-edge technology can be meaningfully employed along Europe’s tracks.

From the real-life application of AI to the twists and turns of the continent’s most ambitious infrastructure project, come and help us shape the future of the rail sector. Find out more about the exciting programme here.

Read more:

Author: Thomas Wintle

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.