Alpha Trains will equip 35 Stadler FLIRT3 multiple units leased to Bayerische Oberlandbahn with ETCS for the Rosenheimer Kreuz concession in Bavaria.
The lessor has commissioned the ETCS retrofit together with a redesign and the second major overhaul of the six-car units. The trains will be used on the ROX network after Bayerische Regiobahn won the Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft tender for the concession in July 2025.
Talbot Services will carry out the work in Aachen and manage the project. InterEngineer Systems is responsible for concept development, planning, engineering, verification and the re-approval process for the modified vehicles.
Siemens Mobility will supply the onboard ETCS equipment. According to Siemens Mobility, the system will use ETCS Level 2 technology compliant with European Baseline 4 specifications.
Alpha Trains plans to carry out the ETCS installation and redesign in parallel with the second major overhaul and general inspection. The company said this approach is intended to reduce vehicle downtime during the programme.
The new ROX transport contract and the corresponding leasing agreement between Alpha Trains and BRB will run from December 2029 to December 2043. The network includes the Munich–Rosenheim–Salzburg RE 5, Munich–Rosenheim–Kufstein RB 54 and Munich–Holzkirchen–Rosenheim RB 58 routes.
The Rosenheimer Kreuz network carries around 17 million passengers annually and covers about 4.9 million train-km per year. The routes include cross-border services to Salzburg in Austria and Kufstein in Tyrol.
The redesign work for the new contract will include replacement of all seat cushions and covers. The fleet has been in service for about 12 years.
