The German railway operator DB Regio AG has ordered 37 regional trains of type CORADIA LIREX worth 160 million euros from Alstom. This order includes an option for up to 42 additional trains. The electric multiple units will be developed and manufactured at Alstom Transport’s site in Salzgitter, Germany, and are planned to be delivered between  mid-2008 and the end of 2011.

These trains will enable DB Regio AG to renew its train fleet on the Augsburg network in Bavaria. They will enter service from December 2008 onwards and serve the Munich-Augsburg-Ulm and the Augsburg-Donauwörth-Aalen/ Treuchtlignen lines. Each train will carry more than 450 passengers.

The CORADIA LIREX are recyclable up to 95 % and are in line with Alstom’s eco-design initiative. This performance was reached through the integration of environmental parameters in the design of the products enabling to manage and reduce their environmental impact throughout their lifecycle, from production to recycling. Moreover, they will be equipped with an energy management system which will reduce the energy consumption of the traction system and the auxiliaries.

The installation of the main traction components on the roof of the cars is a special feature of the CORADIA LIREX train which offers many advantages. First of all, it can be configured with a continuous low floor facilitating access and movement on board, notably for passengers with impaired mobility. Through the installation of the components on the roof, the contact with ice or snow accumulation on the tracks is also avoided. This contributes to making this  train particularly suited for harsh winter conditions. Finally, the location of the traction components allows easy access and maintenance.

Since the introduction of the first regional trains CORADIA LIREX in 2002, Alstom has sold a total of 108 trains of this type in Europe. 32 trains are already in service in the Greater Stockholm Area in Sweden. Another 39 trains will be delivered to the Stockholm transport authorities between now and 2008.

''This order awarded to us by a customer known for its demanding requirements is particularly important for Alstom. It confirms our ability to propose, notably on the important German market,  innovative, comfortable, competitive and  environmentally friendly products,” underlined Philippe Mellier, President of Alstom 's Transport Sector.