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- Passenger news
- 12. giugno 2025
- Press release | Alpha Trains
Sustainable redeployment of reliable existing train fleet
Alpha Trains and VIAS Rail sign leasing agreement for 14 FLIRT1 electric multiple units
Luxembourg/Cologne, 12 May 2025
Alpha Trains, Europe′s leading lessor of locomotives and trains, and VIAS Rail GmbH (VIAS), a subsidiary of the RATH Group, have signed a leasing agreement for 14 five-car Stadler FLIRT1 electric multiple units (EMUs). Starting in December 2026, these trains will operate on the Emscher Express Network (ENE), which was tendered by the transport authorities Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) and Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL). Both the transport contract and the leasing agreement will run until December 2030.
To offer passengers a modern and comfortable travel experience at the start of the new concession, the trains will be redesigned before being put into operation, which will include intensive cleaning, new upholstery for the passenger seats, and replacement of interior fittings. Some outdated technical components will also be replaced to ensure the vehicles can continue to be used reliably in the future.
The new operator, VIAS, will operate the trains on the RE 3 line, the Rhine-Emscher Express, which runs from Düsseldorf via Duisburg, Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, and Dortmund to Hamm - a route already served by these trains today. In the future, they will also be used on the RE 41 line, the Vest-Ruhr-Express, which is currently still operated by DB Regio and runs from Bochum via Recklinghausen to Haltern am See. On both lines, the trains will offer significantly more seating capacity than before and ensure a high level of comfort and customer satisfaction.
Using the trains on both the existing RE 3 line and the new RE 41 line will enable efficient utilisation of the fleet - an important measure for promoting the sustainable development of regional rail passenger transport.
“We are delighted that our reliable FLIRT1 trains will remain a key part of local transport in North Rhine-Westphalia," says Bernhard Holzer, Managing Director of Alpha Trains Europa GmbH. "By choosing to continue operating and modernising existing vehicles, we - together with our partner VIAS - are making a valuable contribution to sustainable and cost-effective mobility in regional rail transport."
“Reliable vehicles are essential for a successful start of the Emscher Express network,” says Thomas Eßer, member of the VIAS management board. “With Alpha Trains, we have a trusted partner who not only provides expert support throughout this project but also offered the ideal addition to our existing FLIRT 1 fleet.”
About Alpha Trains
Alpha Trains is the leading private rail vehicle rental company in continental Europe. The company employs 150 people from 20 countries at its locations in Luxembourg, Antwerp, Cologne, Madrid, Paris and Warsaw. Alpha Trains owns more than 1,000 locomotives and multiple units and offers its customers customised leasing solutions, comprehensive expertise in the maintenance and repair of vehicles and many years of experience in the financing of new builds. Alpha Trains′ fleets are used by many public and private operators in 22 European countries. The shareholders of Alpha Trains are APG, Arcus European Trains, PGGM and Swiss Life.
About VIAS
Under the VIAS brand, we have been operating competitive local rail transport networks in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate since 2005. These include relevant connections from the important railway hubs of Düsseldorf and Frankfurt. VIAS thus significantly secures the mobility of a constantly growing clientele between conurbations and rural regions with currently around 11 million train kilometres per year. VIAS is a company of the RATH Group, which was founded in 2003 and is based in Düren. In addition to local rail passenger transport, the group offers a large number of other transport services, especially by rail.
Contact
Alpha Trains Group
Heike Zimmermann - Head of PR, Marketing & Events
Phone: +49 221 9140 9063
[email protected]