RB 60: New electric trains should frustrate commuters - will it get better?

RB 60: New electric trains should frustrate commuters - will it get better?

There has been a lot of excitement in the Brandenburg region recently surrounding the Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) train services, particularly on the RB 60 line. Commuters have complained about frequent train cancellations caused by the replacement of old diesel locomotives and various construction work. But there is reason for hope, because a new battery-powered Siemens Mireo Plus B train will be in use from June 14th. Loud Moz.de This step is intended to help improve the reliability of connections and significantly increase the space available by 128 seats.

When service begins on June 14th at 8:21 a.m. in Eberswalde, the new trains can be felt straight away. The NEB has ordered a total of 31 Mireo Plus B trains, which will be used throughout eastern Brandenburg from December 2024. This not only reduces the noise level, but also emissions, because the new trains draw their energy from batteries. Siemens Mobility is developing these trains to enable emission-free regional transport in Europe. How Siemens reports, the Mireo Plus B trains are characterized by long ranges and energy efficiency.

Planned construction work and its effects

Unfortunately, not all commuters will be happy about the new trains. Due to necessary construction work, further train cancellations and rail replacement services will be announced on June 19th and 24th and July 3rd and 4th between Eberswalde and Frankfurt (Oder). This information can also be found on the website Moz.de. The announced measures could once again fuel the frustration of commuters, as reliable connections are an important criterion for many when using the train.

The challenges of electric mobility in rail transport are being addressed not only by Siemens, but also at the political level. The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport emphasizes the importance of promoting alternative drives in a technology-neutral manner in order to achieve climate goals. Like on the official site BMV.de As explained, new funding is intended to stimulate investments in climate-friendly technologies, including battery trains that can offer an emission-free solution on non-electrifiable routes.

A look into the future

The future of rail transport in Brandenburg looks promising. The new trains are a step towards making the use of the railway more attractive and at the same time more environmentally friendly. Experts see the Mireo Plus B trains as having the potential to make commuter flows not only environmentally friendly, but also more comfortable. The future lies in electrification and alternatives such as battery-electric multiple units, especially on routes that cannot be electrified economically.

We are excited to see how the situation for commuters will develop in the long term and hope that the announced improvements will take effect quickly. According to the NEB, there will be no outages for the time being from June 16th and 17th. A ray of hope on the way to more reliable and sustainable rail transport in Brandenburg.