THE first Stadler RABe 501 Giruno inter-city EMU for Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) began dynamic testing at the VUZ Velim test centre in the Czech Republic on July 24.

KEOLIS subsidiary Syntus has awarded Stadler a 15-year contract to maintain the 16 Flirt EMUs the Swiss manufacturer is supplying for use on Dutch regional services between Zwolle and Kampen/Enschede from December.

STADLER CEO Mr Peter Spuhler has signed a memorandum of understanding with Georgia’s minister of economy and sustainable development, Mr Giorgi Gakharia, paving the way for the Swiss rolling stock manufacturer to set up a plant in the country.

STADLER’s EC250 Giruno high-speed train travelled through the Gotthard Base Tunnel for the first time on July 2, and the Giruno steps up its high-speed testingon the Velim test circuit in the Czech Republic.

BRAUNSCHWEIG Transport (BSVAG) has awarded a joint venture of Stadler and Solaris a €18.9m contract to supply 17 Tramino low-floor LRVs.

STADLER handed over the first bi-mode Flirt multiple unit at its plant in Bussnang, Switzerland, on June 15. The train, which is equipped with a 3 kV dc drive for electrified lines and a diesel-electric drive for non-electrified lines, is destined for the Valle d’Aosta region in Italy.

BADEN-Württemberg public transport authority NVBW and the Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) have awarded the Go-Ahead Group, Britain, a contract to operate Network 3A (Murrbahn), which provides commuter services and links between Stuttgart and Nuremberg.

EUROPEAN rolling stock leasing company Alpha Trains has taken delivery of six Euro 4000 diesel-electric locomotives from Stadler’s Valencia plant for operation on cross-border freight services between Spain and Portugal.

STADLER Rail, Switzerland, says it achieved a record number of train orders in 2016 worth SFr 4.9bn ($US 5.1bn), compared with SFr 2.1bn in 2015. However, turnover increased only marginally, from SFr 2.05bn in 2015 to SFr 2.1bn in 2016, due to the strength of the Swiss franc.

OSTRAVA Public Transport (DPO) has revealed artist’s impressions of the final design for its new fleet of Stadler Tango LRVs.