Air free applications in trains: redefining efficiency and safety
Liebherr works together with partners to develop innovative air-free train systems like electrohydraulic brake actuators to enhance efficiency in railway, setting new standards in the railway industry.

EHBA: Revolutionizing train braking with electrohydraulic technology
In collaboration with Siemens, Liebherr has developed the Electrohydraulic Brake Actuator (EHBA), a compact, closed braking system integrating all components required to build and release brake force, along with local control. Designed to fit seamlessly into existing bogie configurations, it maintains the same mechanical interfaces as conventional pneumatic brake calipers. Derived from aerospace flight control technology, the EHBA meets the highest safety standards, including SIL4 certification, and complies with the latest safety verification regulations.
Switching to air-free braking offers significant benefits, such as reduced weight, simplified installation, and space savings for other subsystems—valuable for vehicle development. Operational advantages include lower maintenance requirements, faster train start-up times, and shorter headways. This groundbreaking technology has been implemented by Siemens Mobility in the X-Wagen metro project in Vienna, Austria, marking a milestone in modern train braking systems.