HELSINKI’s public transport authority (PKO) has awarded Stadler a contract to supply 63 Tango Nordic LRVs.
As outlined in the tender, the order comprises 30 uni-directional vehicles and 33 bi-directional LRVs. The contract also includes an option for 120 additional vehicles and a 30-year maintenance agreement.
PKO says that three manufacturers were invited to bid for the contract, but only two bids were found to be compliant. Stadler was chosen as the winning bidder, ahead of the only other bidder, Škoda Group.
The LRVs have been designed in collaboration with Aivan, a leading Nordic design and innovation studio. Stadler adds that the LRVs will be manufactured using sustainable materials, including zero-emission steel and components with high recycled content.
Under the maintenance agreement, Stadler will provide technical support, supply spare parts, establish a local warehouse, and develop a logistics system for spare parts.
According to PKO, the LRVs are needed for new light rail lines, such as the Western Tram and the Vantaa Tram projects, and the new fleet will enable the growth of light rail traffic throughout the Helsinki metropolitan area. They will replace Helsinki’s Valmet fleet, which dates from the 1970s.
This is Stadler’s first LRV order from Finland. The value of the order has not been disclosed and Stadler says it cannot provide further details of the contract nor the new fleet during the 14-day legal standstill period. The estimated value of the deal for 63 LRVs when the tender was launched in October 2023 was €1.6bn.
Škoda’s response
Škoda issued a statement on October 7 noting that the decision to award the contract to Stadler is not final, as it is conditional on the approval of a budget increase by the City of Helsinki, and can still be challenged in court.
“We are currently analysing the outcome and reviewing all related documentation,” Škoda said in the statement. “We are confident that the offer was fully compliant with the tender requirements and within the allocated budget.”
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