Smart Train Lease GmbH has received an order from Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH to provide three Mireo Smart trains for the new RB 32 line, along with an eight-year maintenance contract. The agreement was signed on August 19, and operations are scheduled to begin on December 14, 2025. The first train delivery is planned for October 1, just six weeks after the contract signing.
The quick deployment is possible because the vehicles have already been manufactured and use a standardized design. This approach allows both passengers and operators to benefit from a faster start of service.
"With the new, intelligent leasing concept and the rapid provision of Mireo Smart trains for the RB 32, Smart Train Lease demonstrates how modern, energy-efficient mobility can be flexible and demand-driven deployed in local transport – an important impulse for the Ahr Valley and a sign that both politics and industry are setting the right priorities," said Benjamin Dobernecker, Managing Director of Smart Train Lease GmbH.
“We are very pleased that we can contribute to the revitalization of the Ahr Valley after the terrible flood disaster exactly four years ago," said Henrik Behrens, Managing Director of Trans Regio GmbH. "We hope that everything goes according to plan and that by the timetable change in December 2025, the newly rebuilt and then electrified railway line by DB InfraGo will be available for passengers and our modern trains. The new order is also a great success for us, as it is the first time in many years that we are expanding Trans Regio's services in Rhineland-Palatinate and can operate an additional line. In addition to new vehicles, around 20 train drivers will be needed for the new services. Trans Regio offers secure jobs in the region. To this end, Trans Regio trains train drivers and is looking for interested candidates for the Remagen depot."
Thorsten Müller, Association Director of SPNV-Nord, commented on how quickly plans have moved forward: "The RB 32 offers better connectivity to the Middle Rhine Valley and thus relieves a heavily frequented route. With our new SPNV concept for the Ahr Valley starting December 2025, we were able not only to electrify the service but also to expand it. This is a strong signal for local transport in northern Rhineland-Palatinate, especially under the current difficult financial conditions. My special thanks goes to all project participants – especially Trans Regio for implementing this forward-looking connection and Smart Train Lease for the short-term provision of the three modern Mireo Smart trains."
The Mireo Smart trains feature a top speed of 160 km/h with seating capacity for 214 passengers—including a separate first-class section—and space designed to accommodate up to 21 bicycles. Passengers will have access to onboard internet (WLAN), power outlets at seats including USB charging ports, as well as reliable radio connections due to Siemens Mobility’s window technology.
The RB 32 line will run electrically without stops from Ahrbrück through Remagen toward Koblenz and Boppard—providing direct access between Ahr Valley communities and key points along the Middle Rhine corridor. This development supports long-term infrastructure recovery efforts following major flooding in 2021.
This order represents an expansion of existing Mireo fleets using Smart Train Lease’s model—a move highlighting ongoing cooperation between Siemens Mobility and Transdev.
Maintenance support will be managed through integration into existing facilities at Koblenz; digital fleet monitoring via Railigent X; condition-based maintenance planning; use of CORMAP software; as well as coordinated training programs with regional academies so operations can launch smoothly when scheduled.