Fourteen five-car Stadler FLIRT1 electric multiple units (EMUs) will continue operating in North Rhine-Westphalia under a new leasing agreement between Alpha Trains and VIAS Rail GmbH.
FLIRT1 units return to RE 3 and expand to RE 41
The 14 EMUs will operate on the RE 3 (Rhine-Emscher Express) line, which runs from Düsseldorf to Hamm via Duisburg, Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, and Dortmund, as well as on the RE 41 (Vest-Ruhr-Express) line, connecting Bochum to Haltern am See via Recklinghausen. The RE 41 is currently operated by DB Regio.
The FLIRT1 units currently serve the RE 3 line. Under the new contract, the trains will be redistributed across both routes. This will allow for increased seating capacity on RE 41 and extended use of the existing fleet.
Leasing period and refurbishment plan
Alpha Trains will lease the vehicles to VIAS, a subsidiary of the RATH Group. Both the transport contract and leasing agreement will run for four years, from December 2026 to December 2030.
Before entering service under VIAS operation, the EMUs will undergo refurbishment. The programme includes reupholstered passenger seats, replacement of selected interior components, and updates to technical systems. An intensive cleaning programme is also part of the preparation work.
Continuation of EMU fleet use in NRW
The agreement allows for continued use of existing rolling stock already homologated for the network. Alpha Trains’ FLIRT1 units have been in service for years on various regional routes in North Rhine-Westphalia. Their continued use supports fleet consistency within the region’s rolling stock pool.
No financial details were disclosed regarding the lease, refurbishment, or operational agreement. Based on similar transactions, short-term leasing of modernised EMUs over a four-year period typically represents a multi-million-euro investment.
