GERMAN public transport authority RMV, which is responsible for services in the Frankfurt (Main) region, has agreed a deal with Stadler for the supply of 27 Citylink tram-trains. The value of the contract, which also includes maintenance, servicing and provision of spare parts for 30 years, has not been disclosed.
The new trains will operate on the Western Regional Tangent (RTW) line, a new radial line under construction connecting Frankfurt’s western suburbs, including Bad Homburg, Eschborn, Bad Soden, Frankfurt Airport, Neu-Isenburg and Dreieich.
The 50m-long trains will accommodate around 360 passengers and will provide step-free access from different platform heights. These are 800mm for RTW stops and either 760mm or 960mm at German Rail (DB) stations.
Delivery of the first three vehicles for testing and approval is scheduled for autumn 2028, with the entire fleet due to be delivered by autumn 2030. RTW plans begin operations with the introduction of the new timetable in mid-December 2030.
“Not only are the three core sections of RTW now under construction, but the decision on rolling stock has also now been made,” says RMV managing director, Knut Ringat. “This means that the most important foundations have been laid for the full launch of operations at the end of 2030.”
