They are similar to Deutsche Bahn's Class 425 and Class 423 trainsets, but feature a comparatively low floor height of 78 cm (31 in) to allow step-free access on 76 cm (29.9 in) platforms. They also lack a third set of doorways in the center of each car.
Naming
In total, 40 units were built. Some of the units carry names of towns and cities on the Hanover S-Bahn network: