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| Siemens Airo | |
|---|---|
| Name | Siemens Airo |
| Manufacturer | Siemens Mobility |
| Family | Desiro |
| Yearservice | 2024 |
| Formation | multiple units |
| Capacity | variable |
| Maxspeed | 160 km/h |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm |
Siemens Airo is a family of electric multiple unit passenger trains developed by Siemens Mobility as part of the Desiro portfolio. The Airo series targets regional and commuter market segments across Europe and beyond, emphasizing modularity, energy efficiency, accessibility, and compliance with contemporary interoperability standards. It integrates contemporary traction technology, crashworthiness design, passenger amenities, and digital train control interfaces to serve diverse networks, depots, and regulatory regimes.
The Airo design combines lightweight Siemens-engineered aluminium carbody construction with modular interior layouts influenced by projects such as Desiro ML, Desiro City, Velaro, Vectron, and Mireo. Bogie and suspension systems draw on experience from Bombardier Transportation collaborations and benchmarked competitors like Alstom Coradia families and Stadler FLIRT. Propulsion and traction equipment use silicon carbide inverter technology echoing developments in ABB power electronics and Hitachi-sourced systems integrated via supplier partnerships with ZF Friedrichshafen and Knorr-Bremse. Passenger amenities include HVAC units adhering to standards observed by Deutsche Bahn, passenger information systems compatible with ETCS and ERTMS, CCTV and CCTV compliance referenced to European Union directives, and multi-modal accessibility features aligned with Americans with Disabilities Act-inspired approaches adapted for United Kingdom and European Union law. The design also incorporates regenerative braking and onboard energy storage options inspired by trials involving Siemens Gamesa and battery demonstrators tested in cooperation with RINA and national research agencies.
Airo variants span configurations comparable to regional EMUs and commuter sets, with 2-car, 3-car, 4-car, and 6-car formations informed by operator demands from entities like SNCF, SBB, ÖBB, National Express, and DB Regio. Specialized permutations include dual-voltage and multi-system versions to operate on networks linking France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, with onboard transformers and pantograph arrangements resembling solutions used on Siemens Vectron locomotives. Suburban configurations feature high-density seating akin to London Overground and MTR fleets, while long-distance regional layouts incorporate toilets and bicycle racks meeting standards used by Nederlandse Spoorwegen and SNCB/NMBS. Freight-adapted control systems and driver assistance packages echo technology from Freightliner and GB Railfreight operational practices.
Development programs for Airo leveraged Siemens Mobility research centers collaborating with academic partners such as RWTH Aachen University, Imperial College London, and ETH Zurich. Prototype testing occurred on infrastructure owned by DB Netz and at test facilities like Ilmala Depot and VTI test sites used by Svenska Kustbanan projects. Manufacturing/assembly lines were established in plants influenced by Siemens’ facilities in Krefeld, Erlangen, Vienna, and joint ventures with regional suppliers in Spain and Poland. Supply chain partners included component firms such as Faiveley, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Electric, and ThyssenKrupp; quality assurance processes mirrored ISO standards adopted by International Organization for Standardization-aligned programs and procurement frameworks used by agencies like European Investment Bank funding schemes.
Operators that ordered or trialed Airo-type units include regional operators and national carriers such as Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB, SNCF, SBB, National Express, Keolis, Transdev, Groupe RATP, Nederlandse Spoorwegen, and municipal transit authorities in Copenhagen and Stockholm. Entry-into-service events were held in partnership with transport ministries of Germany, Austria, and France, and inaugural revenue service aligned with timetable changes negotiated by infrastructure managers like Network Rail and ProRail. Service histories document deployment on interurban corridors, RER-style commuter lines, and cross-border routes including corridors connecting Basel, Frankfurt am Main, Zurich, Lyon, and Munich.
Typical technical specifications for Airo units include a design maximum speed of 160 km/h, axle load targets comparable to UIC standards, aluminium monocoque car bodies, and modular floor heights compatible with platform standards observed in European Union interoperability measures. Traction systems employ asynchronous or synchronous motors with power electronics using IGBT or SiC semiconductors supplied by manufacturers like Infineon and STMicroelectronics. Braking systems integrate pneumatic, regenerative, and electro-pneumatic components from Knorr-Bremse and Siemens Mobility auxiliaries. Cab signaling and train control are prepared for ETCS Level 2 or higher and interworking with national train protection systems such as LZB, PZB/Indusi, and KVB.
Safety features include crash energy management structures developed according to EN 15227 crashworthiness standards, fire safety compliance referencing EN 45545 and NFPA-aligned practices for international bidders, and accessibility certifications consistent with TSI PRM and national accessibility legislation in Germany and United Kingdom. Regulatory certification processes involved national safety authorities like EBA (Germany), Austrian Federal Office for Transport, SNCF Réseau conformity assessments, and type approvals through EU Agency for Railways. Ongoing safety validation used homologation test runs overseen by agencies such as UTAC, VPI, and independent laboratories affiliated with Fraunhofer Society and TÜV SÜD.
Category:Siemens rolling stock