Bombardier Transportation won a contract to supply European rail operator Abellio Rail Südwest GmbH with 43 Bombardier Talent 2 multiple unit trains. The order is valued at approximately $244 million.
Starting in June 2019, the new electric multiple units will gradually enter passenger operation on the Stuttgart regional network in Baden-Württemberg's Neckar Valley region in Germany. Bombardier will supply all 43 trains to Abellio by June 2020. The multiple-unit trains will be built at the Bombardier site in Hennigsdorf, Germany and the bogies are to be produced at the Bombardier plant in Siegen, Germany.
The Talent 2 trains for Abellio will be configured into 24 three-car and 19 five-car train sets, each with 163 or 273 seats respectively. These vehicles will be equipped with Wi-Fi and provide easy access for travellers with limited mobility as well as space for either 24 or 39 bicycles. In total, more than 350 of Bombardier's Talent 2 trains are already in service on Germany's rail network. These trains form the backbone of the German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn's regional fleet and are also in use by private transport companies such as Abellio, National Express and the Southwestern German Transport Company (SWEG). Thanks to their modular design principle, the Talent 2 train can be flexibly adapted and used as both commuter and regional transport.
The contract with Abellio is another achievement for Bombardier in the most recent tenders in Baden-Württemberg. The company asserted itself last year as a train supplier for Deutsche Bahn Regio AG with the Talent 2 trains during the tender for the regional network Gäu-Murr. The so-called "Baden-Württemberg Model" is supporting the vehicle financing for both networks. This arrangement sees the transport company selling the vehicles to the regional rail authority of Baden-Württemberg (Landesanstalt Schienenfahrzeuge Baden Württemberg, SFBW), with the regional rail authority leasing them back to the transport company.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
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With major events and increased travel expected across the state this summer, the Administration is focused on making sure people have a reliable, affordable alternative to driving so we can reduce congestion, support daily commuters, and keep Massachusetts moving.
