Germany to Develop Medical Train for Military and Civilian Use

Siemens Mobility and Lufthansa Technik Defense will develop a medical evacuation train for military use and emergencies.

Lufthansa Technik said the train will be designed to transport more than 150 wounded and sick people.

It will consist of Siemens-manufactured Vectouro passenger coaches, operating as part of a train hauled by a Siemens Vectron X or Vectron X Dual Mode locomotive.

Lufthansa Technik Defense will equip the coaches with appropriate medical systems, ranging from basic stretcher mounts to fully equipped intensive care beds.

The train will accommodate up to 90 medical personnel and support staff.

“Our Vectron X locomotives and Vectouro passenger coaches set the benchmark for the highest levels of reliability, operational availability and cross-border interoperability in Europe. Together with Lufthansa Technik Defense, we are developing a high-performance solution that combines state-of-the-art medical care with the advantages of rail transport,” Siemens Mobility said.

The medical equipment planned for the train has already proven its effectiveness in aviation. The German Air Force and the armed forces of other countries have been using Lufthansa Technik’s aeromedical solutions for decades.

Vectron X Locomotive Versatility

Thanks to their pressure-tight design, which protects against pressure fluctuations, the coaches are also suitable for operation on high-speed railway lines.

This enables the safe and rapid transport of patients along Europe’s main rail corridors without changing rolling stock when crossing national borders.

The Vectron X Dual Mode locomotive will provide additional flexibility, as it can operate on either electric power or diesel fuel.

This will allow the train to continue operating on non-electrified railway sections or in the event of damage to or failure of the overhead contact line. The trains are designed for a service life of more than 30 years. During this period, they can be upgraded and adapted to meet changing requirements.

In Ukraine, a medical evacuation train started operating back in 2022 to evacuate sick and wounded people from combat zones.