en.Wedoany.com Reported - CAF battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) manufactured for German operators VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr, the regional public transport authority of North Rhine-Westphalia) and NWL (Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe) have entered the testing phase at the Velim Test Centre in the Czech Republic.

This testing is part of a validation program for battery traction technology in zero-direct-emission regional services, aimed at assessing the dynamic performance, range, and operational behavior of the trains under real railway conditions. The test results will support vehicle certification and gradual deployment into commercial service.

In May this year, CAF showcased the first vehicles delivered to operators in North Rhine-Westphalia. The order, initially for 60 vehicles, was later expanded to 76 BEMUs, with the contract also including comprehensive maintenance services for a 30-year period to provide long-term technical support and optimize operational costs.

To support the program, CAF is investing in the construction of two modern, digitalized maintenance facilities: a main depot at the historic site of Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck, and a satellite depot in Neubeckum.

The deployment of these battery-powered trains aligns with Germany's regional decarbonization strategy, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia, where a significant portion of the railway network remains unelectrified. Equipped with onboard energy storage systems, the trains can operate without overhead catenary lines on non-electrified routes of the Lower Rhine-Münsterland and North Westphalia networks. By replacing existing diesel multiple units, the new trains will play a key role in promoting sustainable regional transport development.

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