Midtjyske Jernbaner officially inaugurates Denmark’s first battery trains [updated]

Midtjyske Jernbaner has reached a new milestone in Denmark’s railway history as the country’s first battery-powered trains are now being wrapped in the company’s distinctive colors. The Lemvig-based operator is replacing eight aging diesel trains with seven new Siemens Mireo Plus B units — a major step toward greener and more sustainable rail transport.

This article was published on 11.11.2025 and updated on 20.12.2025.

Following a thorough test and approval process, the first battery train entered passenger service on July 14. Now, with all legal ownership transferred from Siemens, the company is ready to give the trains their final touch: the new Midtjyske Jernbaner design.

One of the great milestones is giving our trains a visual identity that clearly reflects who we are,” says Chairman Arne Lægaard. “The trains were delivered in white, and now we’re excited to make them truly ours.

The first trains in the new livery (unit 563 001/MJB 10 and 002/MJB 20) will hit the rails next week, with the rest to follow in the coming weeks.

Developed in collaboration with Railcolor Design and Ontrack_creativity for design, the design blends tradition and modernity. The wrapping of the 47-meter-long trains is carried out by Lemvig-based BV Reklame.

“We wanted to carry our old soul — the one many still associate with VLTJ — into our new, greener future,” explains CEO Martha Vrist.

The design retains Midtjyske Jernbaner’s iconic red, orange, and white colors and features ten local landmarks chosen with the municipalities of Lemvig, Holstebro, and Ringkøbing-Skjern, including Lemvig’s old railway bridge, Bovbjerg Lighthouse, and Bjørn Nørgaard’s The Citizens of Holstebro.

Founded in 1879, Midtjyske Jernbaner operates the Vemb–Lemvig–Thyborøn and Holstebro–Skjern lines and employs around 90 people.

Update 19.12.2025 – official presentation, the Danish King visits Lemvig

The seven battery-powered Mireo Plus B trains were officially inaugurated on December 19, 2025, in the presence of H.M. King Frederik of Denmark. They are in the process of taken over commercial operations on the Holstebro–Skjern and Vemb–Lemvig–Thyborøn lines in West Jutland, replacing the existing diesel trains. This project marks the first deployment of Siemens Mobility’s Mireo Plus B battery trains outside Germany and represents Denmark’s first use of battery-powered passenger trains.

The two-car Mireo Plus B trainsets (563 001/101-007/107 alias 10A/B-70A/B) provide seating for 127 passengers and have a maximum speed of 140 km/h. In battery-mode they have a range of approximately 80 kilometers. The trains can be charged via 25 kV overhead lines on electrified sections and operate on battery power on non-electrified routes, enabling low-noise, zero-emission operation during service.

The trains include standard passenger facilities such as Wi-Fi and passenger information systems and are designed with a lightweight, energy-efficient structure. The order for the seven trains was placed in 2022.

 

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