Alpha Trains has positioned itself at the forefront of digital rail modernisation in Europe, becoming one of the first private rolling stock leasing companies in Germany to retrofit the European Train Control System (ETCS) onto an existing regional fleet. The initiative will support operations on the newly awarded “Rosenheimer Kreuz” (ROX) concession, a vital passenger corridor in Bavaria.
The project centres on 35 Stadler FLIRT3 multiple units—comprised of seven three-car and 28 six-car trains—leased to Bayerische Oberlandbahn GmbH (BOB), which operates under the Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB) brand. Following BRB’s successful bid for the ROX contract from Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft mbH (BEG) in July 2025, Alpha Trains has moved swiftly to ensure the fleet is future-ready through ETCS retrofitting, combined with a full redesign and second major overhaul programme.
Strategic Collaboration Drives Complex Retrofit Programme
Delivering ETCS integration at this scale requires deep technical expertise and a coordinated supply chain. Alpha Trains has therefore assembled a strong consortium of industry partners:
- Talbot Services GmbH (Aachen): Responsible for project management and execution
- InterEngineer Systems GmbH: Leading technical implementation, including engineering and re-approval
- Siemens Mobility GmbH: Supplying ETCS onboard systems
This model underscores a growing trend in the European rail sector—leveraging specialist partnerships to accelerate digital transformation.
Dirk Reuters, CEO of Talbot Services GmbH comments:
“We are very pleased to be implementing this technically and logistically challenging project for our customer Alpha Trains. The ETCS retrofitting of the vehicles, carried out together with our partners InterEngineer and Siemens Mobility, is an important step towards preparing existing fleets for digital rail transport.”
InterEngineer’s role extends beyond engineering into regulatory compliance, ensuring that modified trains meet stringent approval standards.
Alexander Milosavljević, Managing Director of InterEngineer Systems GmbH adds:
“The OEM-independent selection and integration of the most suitable onboard unit is a major step towards greater openness and competition in the railway sector. With this project, we are creating a model that demonstrates how technical compatibility and economic efficiency can go hand in hand. It sends a clear signal to all operators and vehicle owners and serves as a blueprint for upcoming ETCS retrofits.”
Siemens Mobility’s ETCS Level 2 technology—aligned with the latest European Baseline 4 standards—will underpin interoperability across borders.
Guido Rumpel, Head of Rail Infrastructure Germany at Siemens Mobility:
"Retrofitting the Alpha Trains fleet with our ETCS Level 2 technology ensures interoperability for our customers, as our advanced onboard units comply with the latest European Baseline 4 specifications. I am particularly pleased with the intensive and, for us, very valuable cooperation with the general contractor Talbot and the system integrator InterEngineer, which makes this project groundbreaking."
Minimising Downtime Through Smart Engineering
A key differentiator in this programme is the integration of ETCS retrofitting with scheduled heavy maintenance and redesign. By aligning these workstreams, Alpha Trains and its partners aim to reduce service disruption and maximise fleet availability.
This approach requires precise logistics, particularly around the timely procurement and installation of ETCS components for serial production. However, the payoff is significant—reduced downtime and improved operational efficiency for BRB.
Long-Term Investment in Digital Rail Infrastructure
The ROX operating contract will run from December 2029 through to December 2043, providing a long-term horizon for return on investment. For Alpha Trains, the retrofit is both a strategic and technical milestone.
Bernhard Holzer, Managing Director of Alpha Trains Europa GmbH emphasizes the importance of this investment:
“We see ourselves not only as a lessor, but also as a technical partner to our customers. The ETCS retrofit is a strategic investment in the longevity of our fleet and the digitalisation of railways. As one of the first private lessors in the German regional rail sector to take this step for an existing fleet, we are setting a new benchmark. By combining the retrofit with the heavy maintenance programme, we are offering our long-standing partner BRB a highly efficient solution that minimises operational costs.”
The trains themselves will also undergo a full interior refresh, including new seating materials, ensuring improved passenger comfort alongside technological upgrades.
Supporting a Critical European Rail Corridor
The Rosenheimer Kreuz network is a cornerstone of Bavarian regional transport, carrying approximately 17 million passengers annually and covering nearly 4.9 million train kilometres. Key routes include:
- Munich – Rosenheim – Salzburg (RE 5)
- Munich – Rosenheim – Kufstein (RB 54)
- Munich – Holzkirchen – Rosenheim (RB 58)
Importantly, ETCS deployment will enable seamless cross-border operations into Austria, reinforcing interoperability across Europe’s rail network.
Arnulf Schuchmann, Chairman of the Management Board of Bayerische Oberlandbahn GmbH and Bayerische Regiobahn GmbH states:
"We are delighted to have Alpha Trains as our leasing partner, a competent and innovative company that can reliably plan and implement such a complex and innovative project – ETCS retrofitting, redesign and general inspection – from a single source. For the first time, twelve-year-old local trains are being retrofitted with ETCS, creating a blueprint that can be used as a guide for future modernisation projects."
ETCS: Enabling Europe’s Digital Railway Future
The European Train Control System is central to the continent’s ambition to replace fragmented national signalling systems with a unified, interoperable standard. Beyond safety improvements, ETCS enhances line capacity, operational efficiency and sustainability—supporting modal shift to rail.
Alpha Trains’ investment therefore represents more than a fleet upgrade; it is a tangible step towards Europe-wide rail digitalisation and decarbonisation.
Image credits: Alpha Trains
