SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has awarded Siemens a framework contract for up to 200 6-car double-deck EMUs.
A base order for 116 trains, worth SFr 2bn ($US 2.48bn), includes 95 trains to replace first-generation DPZ double-deck EMUs operating Zürich S-Bahn services, which are over 30 years old. A further 21 trains will be deployed in French-speaking Switzerland on the Vaud RER centred on Lausanne and the RE33 Martigny - Annemasse line.
The contract, which was tendered in June 2024, includes an option for a further 84 trains. The 150m-long EMUs, which will each seat 540 passengers, will operate Zürich S-Bahn services in multiple during peak periods and will provide 45 more seats and 30% more standing room than the current DPZ fleet. The first new trains are expected to enter service with the timetable change in December 2031 and delivery of all 116 EMUs is expected to take six years.
The trains will be built at Siemens' Krefeld facility in Germany and will be maintained by SBB. The contract includes provision for purchase of spare parts.
Stadler disappointed
Swiss manufacturer Stadler has issued a statement expressing its “great regret” that the contract was awarded to Siemens. "With 99% availability, Stadler's double-deck trains are among the most reliable trains in the SBB fleet,” says Stadler CEO, Markus Bernsteiner.
“The fact that, despite our vehicles being tried and tested and popular in daily use by SBB, we were not chosen to supply SBB with the latest technology is a great disappointment for Stadler and our approximately 6000 employees in Switzerland."
The statement continues that, based on SBB's scoring system, Stadler believes that the effective price difference is 0.6 percentage points, calculated on the basis of 176 double-deck trains.
“Stadler is the only supplier to manufacture trains entirely in Switzerland and is only 0.6% more expensive than Siemens. Stadler will analyse the other points in SBB's assessment in depth,” the statement concludes.
SBB says that it awarded the framework contract in accordance with the provisions of public procurement law (BöB/VöB). According to SBB, “Siemens Mobility submitted the most advantageous offer under procurement law and came out on top in terms of investment costs, operating expenses (energy/maintenance) and sustainability criteria.”
For detailed data on fleet orders across Europe, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
