DSW21 and BVB send Black & Yellow legends train out on the tracks
As of today, a train painted with images of BVB legends Wolfgang Paul, Michael Zorc, Nobby Dickel, Lars Ricken, Kalle Riedle, Sebastian Kehl, Patrick Owomoyela and Roman Weidenfeller will roll through the tracks in Dortmund. On Wednesday, the train was sent out on the tracks by Borussia Dortmund partner DSW21 from their depot in Dorstfeld.
Dortmund, 1990.
Flemming Povlsen moves from PSV Eindhoven to BVB, where he goes onto wear various different numbers on his back.
The company DUEWAG delivers the city rail vehicle type B6 with the number 320-2, which remains unchanged for all times, to DSW21.
31 years have gone by since then. Povlsen has become a Dortmund legend. As has wagon 320-2, in its own way. It just keeps going and going and going. Even after three decades of use, the paint still hasn't worn off. On the contrary - it's just had a new lick applied. The newly renovated and painted wagon, with its proud 37.5 tonnes of weight, has now been officially dubbed the "Legends Train". Pictures of BVB heroes Wolfgang Paul, Michael Zorc, Nobby Dickel, Lars Ricken, Kalle Riedle, Sebastian Kehl, Patrick Owomoyela and Roman Weidenfeller have been painted onto the train, which will continue transporting people throughout the city of Dortmund. Above the pictures is a line of text that reads: ''We follow you, no matter where,'' in reference to the famous fan song. Also visible is the BVB logo and that of the municipal company family 21, who became the club's sustainability and brand partner this year. Guntram Pehlke, chairman of the board of DSW21, along with BVB managing director Carsten Cramer, sent the legends train - now the second Dortmund city train coloured Black & Yellow after the famous BVB train, which recently celebrated its tenth birthday - on its way from the depot in Dorstfeld on Wednesday.
In addition to racing down the tracks, the train stands for and promotes the passion for football of the people of Dortmund as well as the close connection between BVB and 21. This will be made most visible on home match days, when a large proportion of the fans - up to 35,000 at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK - travel to the stadium by DSW21 buses and trains. Of course, everything is different in the pandemic, but the legends train is mobilising for the future. The wagon with the number 320-2 has already reeled off a few million kilometres in its legendary 31-year history, saving quite a lot of CO2 in the process. In Dorstfeld, where the vehicle has now been lovingly refurbished, the car has always received the very best care. This should allow it to travel around Dortmund's cityscape for a few more years to come. Hence the elaborate paintwork, instead of the standard foil covering. The DSW21 paint workshop has, of course, used the original BVB yellow.
''A city train is always a special form of publicity: a brand experience that you can sit in, so to speak,'' said Carsten Cramer, adding: ''This is a significant milestone in our first year of the partnership between BVB and 21.'' Guntram Pehlke also commented: ''Through the legendary BVB players of yesteryear, we are creating inspiration for a successful tomorrow. And with the train, which runs on 100 percent green electricity, we and BVB are setting an example for sustainability and the transport revolution.''