DB Regio Mitte, Stadler Deutschland and the Saarland transport ministry have presented the new Stadler FLIRT Akku battery multiple units for regional services in Saarland.
The first regular deployments are planned on Saarbrücken–Zweibrücken–Pirmasens, operated as RB 68, and Neustadt–Landau–Karlsruhe, operated as RE 6/RB 51. Trial passenger operation on Dillingen–Niedaltdorf, the Niedtalbahn RB 77, and Kaiserslautern–Pirmasens, RB 64, is planned from November 2026.
From December 2026, all Niedtalbahn services are planned to run with the new battery multiple units in regular operation. Further conversions are scheduled in phases: Kaiserslautern–Pirmasens RB 64, Kaiserslautern–Lauterecken-Grumbach RB 66 and Kaiserslautern–Kusel RB 67 are due to follow by mid-2027.
The later phase covers Landau–Pirmasens RB 55 and Winden–Bad Bergzabern RB 54, planned for conversion in 2029. After the full rollout, DB Regio Mitte will operate 44 two-car battery multiple units in the network.
Five battery trains are currently available for preparation work. DB Regio Mitte is carrying out test runs under an existing trial operating permit and is training around 300 drivers for the new class, together with maintenance staff.
For Saarland, the change means that DB Regio Mitte’s regional fleet will become fully electric where it operates the services itself. This includes the new battery trains alongside existing electric stock in the SÜWEX network and the Saar RB electric network. Diesel-electric SNCF vehicles will continue to be used on jointly operated cross-border services to France.
