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- Alpha Group News
- 09. September 2015
- Alpha Trains Press Releases | Alpha Trains / Stadler Rail
A further eight EMUs will join the existing fleet on the Teutoburger Wald-Netz concession at timetable change in 2017
Alpha Trains commissions Stadler to manufacture eight regional FLIRT EMUs with multi-system technology for Keolis Deutschland
Berlin/Cologne, 2 September 2015. From December 2017 eight 5-car Flirt³ from the Berlin train manufacturer Stadler Pankow will support the rail transport on the Teutoburger Wald-Netz concession. The new trains will provide cross-border travel on the extended line RB 61 „Wiehengebirgs-Bahn“ from Bielefeld via Bad Bentheim to Hengelo in the Netherlands.
Last year Keolis fought off competition in a European tender to win the Teutoburger Wald-Netz concession and will operate a total of 27 Stadler Flirt EMU leased from Alpha Trains until December 2032. An official review procedure of the tender award process led to an eight month delay in the signing of the contract for the eight new build trainsets.
The new FLIRT3 EMUs are the third generation of the successful FLIRT family. The features of the 5-car are mostly the same as the existing fleet but with a lighter and more welcoming interior, an entrance door on each side of the carriages, two toilets, one with disabled access in compliance with TSI PRM (European technical specifications for persons with reduced mobility), two areas for wheelchairs, 266 seats and standing room for 319 passengers. For operation on both the German and the Dutch rail networks, the trains will be able to connect to the German power supply system of 15 kV 16.7Hz as well as to the Dutch system of 25kV 50Hz and 1,5 kV DC.
“We are pleased that this contract gives us the opportunity to continue our successful work with Alpha Trains and Keolis”, said Ulf Braker, Managing Director of Stadler Pankow GmbH. “Our FLIRT trains are becoming more and more popular with operators and passengers alike. These trains are successful because they run very smoothly, are energy efficient and equipped with the latest safety technology”. The trains are fitted with the Dutch ATB control system as well as ETCS Level 2 which enables operation on Trans-European networks (TEN).
Shaun Mills, CEO of Alpha Trains commented - “We are delighted that we are once again able to support an existing customer with the extension of their own network offering. Above all, we are very pleased that despite the eight month delay and subsequent doubts over the delivery schedule, Stadler has confirmed it will be able to manufacture and deliver all eight trains on time for timetable change in 2017“ explained Mr. Mills. With these eight new EMUs Alpha Trains is increasing its modern fleet to a total of 342 trains consisting of 1200 car bodies.