Mock-up of the XXL S-Bahn München EMU

During IAA Mobility, visitors can step inside the S-Bahn of the future for free at Königsplatz in München: the Free State of Bavaria, Deutsche Bahn, and Siemens are presenting a walk-in 1 : 1 model of the new train generation for the first time, which will operate in and around München starting in late 2028. At 22 m in length, the design, equipment, and passenger information of the XXL S-Bahn can be experienced by everyone.

Evelyn Palla, Member of the Management Board for Regional Transport at DB: "This is what the future of public transport looks like: At over 200 meters in length, the new S-Bahn trains offer more space and more comfort. They are designed to allow passengers to board faster, making operations more reliable. Together with the commissioning body and the manufacturer, we are setting the standard for a completely new travel experience. This project shows that mobility of the future can only be shaped together - and that fits perfectly with the IAA, where we as DB are participating precisely under this theme. Because everyday mobility is more than just driving a car."

Externally, the S-Bahn logo with a diamond pattern and the colors white and "Bahnland Bayern" blue characterize the design. Inside, yellow accents and natural tones complement the spectrum. With time-dependent lighting, a bright, modern interior is created, equipped with robust and sustainable materials. Greater seat spacing, USB-C sockets, mobile phone signal-permeable windows, Wi-Fi, and a powerful air conditioning system designed for outside temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius ensure more comfort.

Clearly marked areas for wheelchairs, strollers, and bicycles, along with spacious boarding areas, ensure greater punctuality: Passengers can guide themselves and distribute more quickly with floor markings. The five large multi-purpose areas also contribute to this. Their capacity can adjust flexible using 80 automatically locking folding seats. Modern camera technology helps to ensure that the train can be dispatched more quickly at stations.

New standards in accessibility are set by wide, step-free gangways between carriages and wheelchair spaces with eye-level displays that provide information on elevator status and platform height. Passengers with hearing aids can connect via Bluetooth for announcements. Tactile pictograms, Braille, acoustic signals, and high-contrast design complete the accessibility features.

168 displays make passenger information completely digital for the first time - from the network map and journey progress to the position of elevators and exits at the next platform. Outside, an LED strip in the color of the respective S-Bahn line provides quick orientation on the platform. For the design, the Free State of Bavaria and DB, together with the design agency Neomind, surveyed passengers, conducted tests, and spoke with politicians, passenger associations, and stakeholder groups. This resulted in a vehicle that optimally combines diverse needs.

The new S-Bahn EMUs will have a high number of redundant components and are equipped with the Railigent X system, which ensures the highest availability of the trains. Railigent X is part of the open, digital business platform Siemens Xcelerator, which enables customers to achieve a simpler, faster, and more scalable digital transformation. Furthermore, software updates no longer need to be laboriously installed manually at the depot; instead, they reach the trains during maintenance via a secure online connection.

All units will be fitted with Siemens Mobility's ETCS OBU and Automatic Train Operation (ATO), as well as a Train Integrity Monitoring System (TIMS). DB plans to digitize and equip München network with ETCS trackside equipment from 2030. Through the integration of ATO over ETCS, the new S-Bahn trains are ready for the future of rail transport.

The model is located at the IAA Mobility Open Space on Munich's Königsplatz, between the Propylaea and the Glyptothek, directly next to the DB initiative "Future of Local Transport." The interior is accessible with guided tours, for which you can register on-site. Until the new S-Bahn trains are put into operation, the model will be located near the future S-Bahn depot in Pasing-Langwied. There, it will serve for further tests to ensure a perfectly designed vehicle can be put into service at the end of 2028.