Smart Train Lease and Trans Regio deploy Mireo Smart trains for RB 32 to boost electrified rail services in the Ahr Valley

Smart Train Lease and Trans Regio deploy Mireo Smart trains for RB 32 to boost electrified rail services in the Ahr Valley

(IN BRIEF) Smart Train Lease GmbH will supply three Mireo Smart trains to Trans Regio for the new RB 32 line, with the first vehicle set to arrive in October 2025—just six weeks after contract signing. Passenger service on the newly electrified Ahr Valley Railway will begin in December 2025. The eight-year service contract includes digital fleet monitoring, spare parts supply, and condition-based maintenance managed by Siemens Mobility. With 214 seats, modern onboard amenities, and space for bicycles, the trains set new standards for regional transport. Leaders from Smart Train Lease, Trans Regio, and SPNV-Nord stressed the importance of the project in revitalizing the Ahr Valley after the 2021 flood disaster, expanding mobility in Rhineland-Palatinate, and creating secure jobs through the hiring of additional train drivers.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 28-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Smart Train Lease GmbH has signed an agreement with Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH for the rapid deployment of three modern Mireo Smart trains on the new RB 32 line. The contract, finalized on August 19, covers both the short-term provision of the trains and an eight-year maintenance and service package. Passenger operations on the newly electrified Ahr Valley line are scheduled to begin with the December 2025 timetable change, with the first train set to be delivered as early as October 1, just six weeks after contract signing.

The order represents a milestone for both Smart Train Lease and Trans Regio, combining innovative leasing with rapid delivery of high-performance rolling stock. The Mireo Smart trains, capable of reaching 160 km/h and offering 214 seats (including 12 in first class), will bring modern comfort and efficiency to regional travel. Passengers will benefit from multi-purpose areas with space for 21 bicycles, on-board WLAN, ample charging options, and Siemens Mobility’s advanced high-frequency window solution, which ensures uninterrupted mobile connectivity on the move.

“By quickly providing Mireo Smart trains for the RB 32, we demonstrate how flexible leasing and modern mobility solutions can support regional needs and deliver energy-efficient rail transport,” said Benjamin Dobernecker, Managing Director of Smart Train Lease GmbH. “This project is a strong signal for the Ahr Valley and shows that politics and industry are aligning on the right priorities.”

Henrik Behrens, Managing Director of Trans Regio GmbH, added: “We are proud to play a role in revitalizing the Ahr Valley after the devastating floods four years ago. This new service expands our operations in Rhineland-Palatinate for the first time in years and creates secure jobs in the region. Around 20 new train drivers will be needed, and we are actively training candidates for our Remagen depot.”

Thorsten Müller, Association Director of SPNV-Nord, emphasized the importance of the new connection: “The RB 32 will improve access to the Middle Rhine Valley while relieving a heavily traveled route. With our new electrified SPNV concept for the Ahr Valley, we are not only modernizing the service but expanding it – an important achievement under challenging financial conditions.”

The new RB 32 line will connect Ahrbrück directly with Remagen, Koblenz, and Boppard without stops, ensuring efficient use of the reconstructed and electrified Ahr Valley Railway. The initiative supports the long-term recovery of regional infrastructure after the 2021 flood disaster while providing new travel opportunities for residents and commuters.

The trains will be integrated into Trans Regio’s existing Koblenz workshop, where experience with Mireo vehicles is already established. As part of the contract, Siemens Mobility will provide spare parts supply, digital fleet monitoring via Railigent X, and transparent maintenance management through CORMAP. This digital-first approach ensures condition-based maintenance and maximum fleet availability over the eight-year service contract.

This order also represents the first expansion of an existing Mireo fleet under the Smart Train Lease model, underscoring the strategic collaboration between Siemens Mobility and Transdev, and strengthening regional rail in Rhineland-Palatinate for the future.

Siemens Mobility is a separately managed company of Siemens AG. As a leader in intelligent transport solutions for more than 175 years, Siemens Mobility is constantly innovating its portfolio. Its core areas include rolling stock, rail automation and electrification, a comprehensive software portfolio, turnkey systems as well as related services. With digital products and solutions, and the use of industrial AI, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make their infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle, enhance passenger experience, and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2024, which ended on September 30, 2024, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €11.4 billion and employed around 41,900 people worldwide. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/mobility

Media contact:

Silke Thomson-Pottebohm,
Siemens Mobility
+49 174 3053307
silke.thomson-pottebohm@siemens.com

Thorsten Müller
SPNV-Nord – Association Director
+49 261 30291800
t.mueller@spnv-nord.de

Bettina Hauptmann
SPNV-Nord – Communication and Press
+49 261 30291821
b.hauptmann@spnv-nord.de

Thomas Kleinrensing
Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH
+49 151 12676765
thomas.kleinrensing@transdev.de

SOURCE: Siemens AG