Siemens Mobility and Lufthansa Technik Defense plan jointly a patient transport train for military evacuations and civilian disaster relief. To this end, both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ahead of the Berlin Security Conference, as announced today Tuesday. The train is intended to transport more than 150 injured and ill people and provide medical care during the journey – including intensive care patients. The partners aim to develop it in Germany for the German Armed Forces as well as their NATO allies.
The train consists of Siemens Vectouro passenger coaches, paired with a Siemens Vectron X or X Dual Mode locomotive. Lufthansa Technik Defense outfits the vehicles with systems for stretchers (“Litter Racks”) and fully equipped intensive care beds (patient transport units). The train also offers space for up to 90 medical and support personnel. The partners combine their respective expertise in rail vehicle manufacturing and medical air transport.
Cross-border patient transport
The medical technology for the train has, according to Lufthansa Technik Defense, already proven itself in the air: the German Air Force and other armed forces have used Lufthansa Technik’s AeroMedical Solutions for decades. Among other things, this is used to convert the Bundeswehr’s A400M into a “flying intensive care unit.” The same standardized systems are also to be installed in the train, so that patients do not have to be re-stowed when switching between different modes of transport. The cars can be flexibly expanded and reconfigured depending on the mission and care requirements—from basic medical care to intensive care (NATO categories D1 through D4).
Siemens states that the train concept is based on proven platforms: Vectron X locomotives and Vectouro passenger coaches are designed for cross-border deployment. The cars are also suitable for high-speed routes thanks to their pressure-tight construction. Thus the train is intended to safely and quickly transport patients on the most important European rail corridors, without the need for a vehicle change at borders. Additional flexibility is offered by the combination with a Vectron X Dual Mode locomotive, which can run both electrically and with diesel propulsion. This keeps the train operable on non-electrified tracks or in the event of an overhead power failure.
Flexible and economical over decades
A key advantage of the concept, according to the press release, is the ability to switch between civilian passenger transport and patient evacuation. This improves the utilization of the vehicles and increases their economic viability over the entire lifecycle. The trains are designed for more than 30 years of operation and can be modernized and adapted to new requirements during this time.
“Our Vectron X locomotives and Vectouro passenger coaches stand for the highest reliability, availability and cross-border interoperability in Europe. Together with Lufthansa Technik Defense, a powerful MedEvac solution is emerging that combines state-of-the-art medical care with the benefits of rail transport. Building on proven technologies, we are creating a future-proof concept for flexible, fast and reliable patient transport,” said Steffen Bobsien, Head of Locomotives and Coaches at Siemens Mobility.
“Especially in these challenging times of geopolitical uncertainty, the ability to evacuate medically is of high strategic relevance, and this applies to land as well as for air transport,” explained Michael von Puttkamer, Vice President Special Aircraft Services and Defense at Lufthansa Technik. “With Siemens Mobility, we have found a strong partner to bring our proven aeromedical solutions to rail as well, thereby creating a seamless supply chain. In this way, we want to further strengthen the readiness of the Bundeswehr and its allies.”
