Siemens and Lufthansa Technik Defense develop medical evacuation train

• Siemens and Lufthansa Technik Defense are jointly planning a rail-based patient transport solution for military evacuations and civilian disaster response

• The train is designed to transport more than 150 patients during military evacuations and civilian emergencies – including those requiring intensive care

• Proven rail technology combined with proven aeromedical solutions for the German Armed Forces and their NATO allies

• Rail coaches can be converted for civilian passenger transport

Siemens Mobility and Lufthansa Technik Defense are jointly planning a patient transport train for military medical evacuations (MedEvac) and civilian disaster response. To this end, both companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) ahead of the Berlin Security Conference. The train is designed to transport more than 150 injured or ill patients and provide medical care during the journey – from basic to intensive care. The partners intend to develop it in Germany for the German Armed Forces and their NATO allies.

The train consists of proven Vectouro passenger coaches from Siemens, which are combined with a Siemens Vectron X or X Dual Mode locomotive. Lufthansa Technik Defense equips the coaches with systems from basic stretchers (“litter racks”) to fully equipped intensive care beds (so-called Patient Transport Units). The train also offers space for up to 90 medical and support personnel. The partners are combining their decades of experience in rail vehicle manufacturing and aeromedical transport.

“Our Vectron X locomotives and Vectouro passenger coaches stand for the highest levels of reliability, availability, and cross-border interoperability in Europe. Together with Lufthansa Technik Defense, we are creating a high-performance MedEvac solution that combines state-of-the-art medical care with the advantages of rail transport. Based on proven technologies, we are developing a future-proof concept for flexible, fast, and reliable patient transport,” says Steffen Bobsien, Head of Locomotives and Coaches at Siemens Mobility.

“Especially in these challenging times of geopolitical uncertainty, the capability for medical evacuation is of high strategic importance, and this applies to both land and air transport,” explained Michael von Puttkamer, Vice President of Special Aircraft Services and Defense at Lufthansa Technik. “In Siemens Mobility, we have found a strong partner to also bring our proven aeromedical solutions to the rail sector, thereby creating an end-to-end medical supply chain. In this way, we aim to further strengthen the operational readiness of the German Armed Forces and their allies.”

The medical technology for the train has already proven itself in the air: The German Air Force and other armed forces have been using Lufthansa Technik’s aeromedical solutions for decades. Among other platforms, this technology for example transforms the Bundeswehr’s A400M into a “flying intensive care unit.” These standardized systems are now also to be installed on the train, so that patients do not need to be transferred between beds when switching between different modes of transport. The coaches can be flexibly equipped and reconfigured depending on the mission and care requirements - ranging from basic medical treatment to intensive care (NATO categories D1 through D4).

Cross-Border Evacuation

The train concept is based on proven platforms: Vectron X locomotives and Vectouro passenger coaches are designed for cross-border operations. Thanks to their pressure-tight construction, the coaches are also suitable for high-speed routes. This enables the train to transport patients safely and quickly along the most important European rail routes without the need to change vehicles at the borders. Additional flexibility is provided by the combination with a Vectron X Dual Mode locomotive, which can operate on both electric and diesel power. This ensures the train remains operational even on non-electrified routes or in the event of an overhead line failure.

Flexible and Cost-Effective over Decades

A key advantage of the concept is its ability to be converted between civilian passenger service and patient evacuation. This improves vehicle utilization and increases their cost-effectiveness over their entire life cycle. The trains are designed for more than 30 years of service and can be modernized and adapted to new requirements during this time.