Battery-electric Mireo Plus B units from Siemens Mobility have started passenger operations in Rhineland-Palatinate, marking the region’s first use of this traction type. Three two-car trains operated by Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) are now in service on the RB 90 (Limburg–Au–Siegen) and RB 29 (Limburg–Siershahn) lines.
The units are running under the SPNV-Nord local rail transport association and have been undergoing test and training operations since May 2025. Official trials, including a special run between Limburg and Westerburg, were held on 22 September 2025 with state and local representatives on board.
The Mireo Plus B units draw traction current from existing catenary in the electrified sections between Siegen and Au (Sieg), and at Limburg. On the non-electrified portions, including a 78 km section through the Westerwald, the units operate on battery power. No additional charging infrastructure has been installed; instead, the trains recharge during scheduled layovers of over 20 minutes at Limburg and while operating under wire.
The 78 km Limburg–Au–Siegen corridor includes elevation changes of up to 350 m, making it one of the more demanding BEMU applications currently in Germany. Each unit offers 126 seats and standing space for 156 passengers, as well as a multipurpose area for bicycles and wheelchairs. The fleet uses green electricity, and annual CO₂ savings are estimated at nearly 1,150 tonnes.
HLB ordered the vehicles in early 2023, with Siemens supplying all three units. The purchase and operation are jointly financed by SPNV-Nord and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Federal funding from the BMDV totals €3.54 million, drawn from the programme supporting alternative traction in rail transport.
