DB places order for 83 EMU trains from Alstom and Bombardier

Saturday, 09 May 2009

Deutsche Bahn Regio has placed an order totaling USD 602 million with Alstom and Bombardier for 83 new regional EMU trains. The trains will serve the 6 lines of the Stuttgart city and suburban rail network, carrying around 330,000 passengers every day.

Dr. Martin Lange MD of Alstom Transport in Germany said that "Deutsche Bahn has selected a range of modern, tried and tested trains by awarding this new contract to us and we are delighted to be contributing to the improvement of transport services in the city of Stuttgart and its suburbs."

Mr Stephan Krenz president business unit Germany & Scandinavia and MD Germany von Bombardier Transportation said that "The client asked us to provide trains combining advanced technologies with excellent passenger capacities. The ET 430 will provide commuters with an environmentally friendly, comfortable and safe means of transport that meets the local transport requirements of tomorrow."

Manufacturing will take place in Alstom’s factory in Salzgitter and Bombardier’s Hennigsdorf facility, both located in Germany, with delivery scheduled between February and December 2012.

Designed in close cooperation with Stuttgart's urban rail operator, the ET 430 trains will each comprise four cars with a carrying capacity of up to 494 passengers per train. The maximum speed of 140 kilometers per hour and the acceleration and braking performance of the electrical multiple units will help to increase service frequency. The new trains feature eco friendly technologies, with regenerative brakes that allow braking energy to be recovered and fed back into the electric power network. The energy consumption of the new trains will be about 40% less than the recent vehicles.

Similarly, heat released by components, such as the transformer and converter, will be used to heat the cars, which will generate significant cost savings. The trains have been designed in accordance with the latest European standards for interoperability, accessibility and safety in tunnels. They also meet current passive safety requirements.