Further success in Sweden: Stadler is delivering 22 customised electric multiple units to Stockholm

Stadler won out against the competition to build 22 customised electrical multiple units (EMU) for Stockholm Transport (SL). The total contract volume amounts to approximately CHF 232 million. The EMU will be used on the Roslagsbanan route, connecting Stockholm with regions to the north and east of the Swedish capital. The 891 mm track gauge is unique in the world, and Stadler meets the need for a special model: the Swiss rail vehicle manufacturer is well established in the tailor-made sector and continues to generate between 12 and 15 per cent of its group-wide turnover in this area.

Stadler was awarded the contract for the 22 EMU, known as X15p, on 23 August 2016. The cancellation period expired on 21 April. This means Stadler can deliver trains to Sweden once again. “We are delighted with this order from Stockholm. The customised vehicles will allow us to evidence our flexibility and customer focus once again,” explains Peter Spuhler, owner and Group CEO of Stadler.

The 22 EMU will be used on the 65-kilometre Roslagsbanan route. The trains are designed for a speed of 120 km/h, and can take 300 passengers, with seats for 150. Furthermore, they are designed to make access easy for passengers with restricted mobility, and also offer more space for prams and bikes. The trains will be delivered in 2020 and will be put into service a year later. The contract with SL includes an option for a further 45 vehicles.

The Roslagsbanan 891 mm track gauge is unique in the world, and this calls for a bespoke model. Tailormade models of this kind are one of Stadler’s strengths. The company prides itself on its high level of flexibility and willingness to cater for specific customer requirements. This clearly sets it apart from the competition.

Built for tough winters

The trains for SL are also winter-proof. They are specially designed to withstand harsh climatic conditions. The winter-proofing of its vehicles is something Stadler has proven with its trains in Norway, Finland, Estonia, Russia and Belarus, where extreme conditions occur regularly in the winter. This exceptional winter weather resistance is a result of features such as closed engine rooms, double-wall intercar gangways and high-quality insulation. Floor heating and warm air curtains fitted on the entrance doors provide extra comfort inside the train when external temperatures are low. Thanks to the lightweight aluminium design of the carriage bodies, the trains can accelerate more quickly, which results in a significant decrease in the energy required as well as lower operating costs.

The latest order from Sweden reinforces Stadler’s position in this market. Back in June 2015, Stadler received an order for 33 double-decker multiple-unit trains from the Swedish rail company Mälab. They will run in the area around Lake Mälaren, to the west of Stockholm.

About Stadler

Stadler has been building trains for 75 years. The system provider of rail vehicle construction solutions is headquartered in Bussnang in Eastern Switzerland, and has a workforce of over 7000 based in various locations across Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Belarus, Algeria and the United States. Stadler provides a comprehensive range of products in the heavy and urban transport segments: High-speed trains, intercity trains, regional and commuter rail trains, underground trains, tram trains and trams. Furthermore, Stadler also manufactures main-line locomotives, shunting locomotives and passenger carriages, including the most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in Europe. Stadler remains the world’s leading manufacturer in the rack-and-pinion rail vehicle industry.

More Stadler figures: The best-selling FLIRT (Fast Light Intercity- and Regional Train) vehicle has already sold over 1400 units in a total of 17 countries. The KISS (the name is an acronym of the German for Comfortable Innovative Speedy Suburban Train) is also very popular: It has sold 270 units in 10 countries. The most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in Europe, the EURO 4000, has sold 130 units in 7 countries. Additionally, Stadler Service maintains vehicle fleets comprising over 680 vehicles that cover a combined annual distance of 120 million kilometers in 16 different countries.