Schleswig-Holstein in the fast lane: battery-powered trains are revolutionizing the railway!

Schleswig-Holstein in the fast lane: battery-powered trains are revolutionizing the railway!

Schleswig-Holstein has made impressive progress in the area of ​​rail electrification in recent years. For a long time, the state was considered to be at the bottom with only 27 percent electrified routes, but the introduction of battery-powered trains has changed the landscape. A current report highlights that Schleswig-Holstein has now risen to second place in Germany.

From Monday, three new Nordbahn battery-powered trains will run on the route between Eckernförde and Kiel. This innovation is part of a comprehensive strategy that allows the country to catch up with flexible technology. The use of battery trains requires nothing more than special overhead line islands at stations to charge the trains, rather than completely electrifying each route. This represents a cost-effective solution to reduce the environmental impact of diesel.

Future of mobility in Schleswig-Holstein

In addition to the trains between Eckernförde and Kiel, other lines are being planned. By mid-December, the areas from Husum to Kiel and St. Peter-Ording and the Kiel – Schleibrücke-Süd route should also be served with battery-powered trains. According to estimates, around 41 percent of the railway lines in Schleswig-Holstein will then be used by battery-powered trains, while the electrification of the remaining routes will continue to progress. The proportion of electrified routes is expected to increase to 68 percent.

With this innovation, Schleswig-Holstein has not only moved up to second place in the nationwide ranking, but also intends to save ten million liters of diesel and 26,000 tons of CO2 annually, which represents a significant contribution to climate protection.

In recent months, various overhead line islands have already been set up, particularly in Heide, Bad Oldesloe and Kiel, to ensure the power supply for the battery trains. Furthermore, the existing infrastructure was expanded to increase efficiency. These measures are part of a long-term plan to improve rail transport in the region and promote sustainable mobility.

The first problems with the battery trains, which occurred in December 2023 due to software errors and led to restricted timetables, have now been resolved with an update. The trains should now operate more reliably, which is a welcome relief for passengers.

There are currently 52 battery-powered trains in use, which has exceeded expectations. Nordbahn and erixx are the main operators of these modern trains and have already successfully implemented several routes, including Neumünster – Büsum and Kiel – Lübeck.

The changes brought about by the introduction of battery-powered trains have brought Schleswig-Holstein into the focus of the discussion about modern rail transport strategies. Developments in the rail landscape will continue to be closely monitored as they can provide important impetus for the country's entire mobility strategy. The responsibility for expanding and maintaining this infrastructure now lies in the hands of the operators and the state government.

For further information and the latest developments in this area, see the current reporting on www.ndr.de.