The Siemens Desiro is a family of diesel or electric multiple unit passenger trains developed by Siemens Mobility, a division of the German Siemens AG conglomerate. The main variants are the Desiro Classic, Desiro ML, Desiro UK and the later Desiro City, Desiro HC and Desiro RUS. The trains are mostly used for commuter and regional services, and their rapid acceleration makes them suitable for services with short distances between stations. The design is flexible, and has become common in many European countries.
Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is using about 60 diesel-powered Desiro trains designated as ÖBB 5022. These are based on the Class 642 used by Deutsche Bahn, but have some additional safety equipment.
In 2005 and 2006, the Bulgarian State Railways began operating Desiro trains as part of a 67 million Euro deal with Siemens AG for a total of 25 Diesel multiple units. As of 22 March 2006, 16 trains had been delivered, with many of them operating on the Sofia-Kyustendil-Sofia line. Another 117 million Euro deal for 25 EMUs has also been signed with Siemens AG. The EMUs were fitted out in Varna, where BDZ and Siemens AG are intending to establish a joint venture company. The EMUs are designated classes 30 and 31 and are servicing traffic in the Sofia and Plovdiv areas.
Private railway company Arriva vlaky operate with one Desiro train from Deutsche Bahn (DB).
In Denmark DSB has rented 12 Desiro trains since 2002. The trains are primarily used between Odense and Svendborg and between Odense and Fredericia. On 2 July 2009 DSB signed a contract of eight trains from Siemens for Grenaabanen, which entered service on 12 December 2010, with an option for 92 more. The trains extend to Odder from December 2012, starting the light rail network in Aarhus city.