Stadler and VRR agree on capacity expansion for the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr
updated on 5th Nov 2025 16:22 posted on 14th Oct 2025 10:43
On 13 October 2025, VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr, the Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association) is responding to the steadily increasing passenger volume in Teilnetz 1 (Subnetwork 1) of the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn with a targeted capacity expansion. As part of a new project, seven of the existing 17 three-car Class 3427 FLIRT 3 XL EMUs (3427 001 to 017) are to be extended to five-car ones by installing two additional intermediate cars.
Stadler received the contract to implement this project in the summer and is now developing a customized solution for the conversion, which is planned for the period from 2027 to 2029. After completion of the project, Teilnetz 1 will exclusively operate five-car 160 km/h FLIRTs, which will offer 296 seats compared to 180 in the three-car units, i. e. 64 % more seats. With a length of approximately 106 m and 10 entrance doors per side, the five-car FLIRTs will have a power output of 3,000 kW. The project has already begun, engineering work at Stadler is underway to ensure smooth implementation.
We asked Stadler:
- The power output has been increased from 2,000 kW to 3,000 kW? How will this be achieved?
The company answered us: "The stated power output of 3,000 kW refers to peak power, while the continuous power output is 2,000 kW. The integration of additional intermediate cars does not change the power output - this is identical with the original three- and five-car trains."
- Where the additional intermediate cars will be built? And where will they be incorporated into the existing trainsets?
"The conversion with additional intermediate cars is being carried out by Stadler in Germany."
- Will the designation as Class 3427 be retained? Or will the five-car FLIRTs be renumbered?
"The future designation of the trains (Class 3427 or a renaming) is currently still being agreed upon between the operator and the owner. A definitive statement is not possible at this time."
Subnetwork 1 includes heavily frequented lines such as:
- S 2 Dortmund - Herne - Essen/Recklinghausen,
- S 3 Oberhausen - Mülheim - Essen - Hattingen,
- S 9 Haltern am See - Bottrop - Essen - Wuppertal - Hagen,
- RB 32, RB 40, RE 41, RE 49: supplementary lines with S-Bahn-like frequency and stop structure.
S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr is one of the largest S-Bahn networks in Germany, with over 475 km of track and more than 180 stations. It connects central Ruhr metropolises and is a backbone of public transport in North Rhine-Westphalia.
