It is not only our trains that are green – we also focus on solutions for sustainability and climate protection in our maintenance depots.
Climate protection at ICE depots
We are particularly proud of Germany's first climate neutral ICE maintenance depot, which we opened in Cologne-Nippes in 2018. Geothermal power and a 2,100-square-meter photovoltaic system provide the maintenance depot with energy, while extra electricity sourced is also green. LED lights reduce energy consumption compared to conventional energy-saving lamps sustainably.
A solar thermal system on the roof generates heat energy. This supplies all washbasins, showers and kitchenettes in the depot with hot water.
The batteries of electric service vehicles and e-bikes can be charged at charging points. And we offer our employees covered bicycle parking so that their journey to and from work is as climate-friendly as possible.
More climate neutral pit-stop are already being planned: In Dortmund we want to build a completely climate neutral ICE depot by 2027.
Green pit stops at DB Regio
We operate another climate neutral S-Bahn maintenance depot in Hamburg-Stellingen. In the 160-meter-long maintenance shed there, we can maintain and repair trains seven days a week and around the clock. Solar cells cover the depot's entire electricity and heating requirements in summer. Additional electricity is generated exclusively from renewable energy sources. LED illumination systems are used throughout the facility, while rainwater is collected and fed into the groundwater using infiltration systems, rounding off the green solutions.
A large photovoltaic plant generates green electricity on the roof of our S-Bahn workshop in Frankfurt am Main. The depot is heated with climate-friendly district heating.
At the Munich-Pasing maintenance depot, DB Regio is able to reduce its CO2 emissions substanially in comparison with conventional facilities thanks to its use of geothermal power and energy-efficient systems.
Sustainable depots at DB Arriva
Our commitment to the environment does not stop at the national border. Further afield, we have built maintenance depots with our subsidiary DB Arriva in accordance with sustainability criteria at both Guimarães in Portugal and Rhyl in the UK.
