Environmental measures

• In 2021, Udine will be the first Italian city to introduce five natural gas vehicles on its suburban lines, with an investment of about € 1.3 m financed by DB Arriva.
• Chiltern Railways trialed the use of its first hybrid train in June 2021. The re-engineered train has been fitted with an innovative system that allows it to operate under battery power while entering or leaving stations before switching to diesel engines. It will be used in passenger transport from the beginning of 2022 and is the fastest hybrid train to operate in passenger service on the UK national network. This will help to reduce noise and pollutants in and around stations and could also lead to shorter travel times for customers.
• DB Arriva has commissioned 18 new WINK trains in the Netherlands. In addition to a modern design, the newly designed articulated rail cars (GTW) are also fitted with batteries that can store the trains’ braking energy, making them quieter in the station. Storing braking energy means the train does not have to idle when stationary to keep its systems, including lighting and air-conditioning, operational, reducing the environmental impact.
• ProRail, DB Arriva and the provinces of Overijssel, Gelderland and Fryslân are working together to achieve climate-neutral local public transport and are testing a new battery powered train. On three non-electrified rail routes a WINK train from DB Arriva will be tested to (part­­­ly) run electrically. By making technical adjustments to the train, it can run on a battery instead of diesel.
• DB Arriva has fitted its bus fleet in the Dutch region of Achterhoek to operate with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). This is in addition to the HVO buses operated in Friesland and Schiphol and it is also used to power the heating on board buses in Limburg. In addition, the 18 new WINK trains in the north of the Netherlands will also be operated with HVO, and tests will be carried out on HVO use on two existing GTW trains.
• In February 2021, DB Arriva awarded Solaris its first order in the Netherlands for ten new hydrogen buses, the first of which was delivered in October 2021. The capital expen­diture of about € 6.4 million will be supported by the province of Gelderland and the EU.
• DB Arriva opened a new energy-efficient combined depot and head office building in Madrid/Spain. The design of the depot accommodates a transition to zero emissions vehicles, with new infrastructure installed to sup­­port the charging of hybrid, electric and gas-powered vehicles, planned for the future.
• DB Arriva has tested several types of electric buses in Hungary (MAN Lion’sCity E, Mercedes eCitaro, BYD K9 UB solo, Ikarus 120.EL CityPioneer). Plans for similar tests in the future will also be developed in close cooperation with the public transport authority.