Germany: The Civity platform train (or series 557 under Deutsche Bahn classification) is undergoing testing at the Wegberg-Wildenrath test track in Germany. It is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2027.
Between 2021 and 2023, transport operators in the Rhine-Ruhr and Westphalia-Lippe regions, VRR and NWL, ordered 76 such two-car low-floor sets from the Spanish manufacturer. Of these, 61 trains are 55 m long with a capacity of 160 passengers, and 15 are 45 m long with a capacity of 120 passengers.
The stated range is 65 to 110 km depending on the operating area, with a top speed of 140 km/h. The contract also includes 30-year maintenance and construction of a depot in Gelsenkirchen. The full cost is undisclosed, but optional trains were priced at €14-17 mln per set including maintenance. The air-cooled traction motors for the project are produced by Austrian firm TSA.
Deliveries were originally planned to begin in 2024, with entry into service in 2025. In reality, the first set was produced at CAF’s Beasain plant only last year. In July 2025, the customers agreed design changes and new delivery timelines with the manufacturer. The trains will gain the ability to charge from a standard 400 V three-phase supply at 63 A or 125 A, with rollout shifted to 2027–2029.
