The Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR) presented the new CAF battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) for the Lower Rhine-Münsterland network.
The vehicles are part of a 76-train contract for VRR and NWL (Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe), covering design, manufacture, approval, commissioning and 30 years of maintenance. The fleet is based on CAF’s Civity platform and will operate as BR 557 battery-electric multiple units.
CAF will supply two configurations: a short two-car version with three bogies and 122 seats, and a long two-car version with four bogies and 160 seats. The trains have a maximum speed of 140 km/h.
The BEMUs are equipped with a modular onboard energy storage system enabling catenary-free operation on non-electrified sections of the Lower Rhine-Münsterland and northern Westphalia networks.
CAF is responsible for full-service maintenance over 30 years and is establishing two workshop sites: a main depot at the historic Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck location and a satellite depot in Neubeckum .
The new BEMUs will replace the diesel multiple units currently operating in the network.
