310 electric motors from Traktionssysteme Austria for regional trains in Germany

310 TSA electric motors for new Civity regional trains in Niederrhein-Münsterland
A total of 76 new Civity Battery Electrical Multiple Unit (BEMU) regional trains, manufactured by CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A.), will be operational in the rail networks of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VVR) and Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NLW) in Germany. What sets these BEMU vehicles apart is their ability to operate on both electrified sections via catenaries and on non-electrified sections using batteries. Traktionssysteme Austria will supply a total of 310 electric motors for these battery-electric regional trains. Lines RE 44, RB 31, and RB 36 are expected to commence operations in December 2026, with the remaining lines gradually following suit until December 2028.

‘The unique challenge in this project was to develop an air-cooled motor capable of reaching a maximum speed of 140 km/h while being tailored to the dual power supply system of catenaries and batteries. With the TME 54-29-4 electric motor, which boasts significant power reserves, we were able to meet these requirements within a short development timeframe,” stated Johannes Mensdorff-Pouilly, Head of Sales – RAIL.ROAD.SERVICE.

The Civity BEMU trains will be the first modern, battery-electric regional trains to be deployed in significant numbers on the Niederrhein-Münsterland network. TSA and CAF are thus making a significant contribution to the development of sustainable mobility solutions in the German rail network.

TSA’s sustainable mobility solutions and successful collaboration with CAF
The products of Traktionssysteme Austria, the global market leader in developing and manufacturing traction drives for rolling stock and road commercial vehicles, are sustainable and contribute globally to achieving climate goals. Sustainability also plays a significant role in the company’s strategy and direction. TSA endeavours to keep supply chains as short as possible and to make internal processes environmentally conscious, despite the company’s internationality. At the same time, TSA continually works on developing even more environmentally conscious mobility solutions.

‘The multitude of new contracts and orders indicates that environmental considerations are increasingly important in public transportation. The level of electrification in drive technology in the rolling stock industry has always been high. In the realm of road vehicles, there is even more potential to make public transportation entirely sustainable. However, our electric motors are also increasingly being used in this sector, contributing to an emission-free future’, Mensdorff-Pouilly added.

The collaboration between Traktionssysteme Austria and the Spanish vehicle manufacturer CAF has been ongoing for two decades. Within this partnership, over 13,000 electric motors have been produced for the CAF Group.

The German Rail Network and efforts towards sustainability
According to the German federal government, in 2023, the German rail network spanned approximately 38,400 kilometers – nearly equivalent to the Earth’s circumference. In 2022, 62 percent of the total network was electrified. The government aims to increase this figure to 75 percent by 2030.

To achieve the agreed-upon climate goals, diesel trains are gradually being replaced by vehicles equipped with hydrogen, batteries, hybrid (pantograph and battery), and bimodal drive technologies (catenaries and hydrogen). The use of dual-mode trains not only eliminates emissions but also reduces the high costs associated with the construction and maintenance of overhead lines. Generally, the new train models are quieter than their diesel counterparts, offering passengers a higher level of contemporary travel comfort.