Austrian Federal Railways (OEBB) has today once again chosen Stadler to supply 186 double-decker trains.
Last year, Alstom raised an issue with the Austrian Federal Administrative Court regarding an issue with Stadler’s qualified electronic signature. As a result, the court declared the contract null and void and Austrian Federal Railways re-tendered the framework agreement.
Now, the Supreme Administrative Court in Vienna has cleared the way for Stadler and OEBB has picked Stadler to supply 186 KISS double-decker multiple units. The framework agreement has a ten-year runtime and is worth up to 3 billion euros.
Austrian Federal Railways confirmed today it would stick with Stadler meaning that everything is in place for the first call-off order. The framework agreement covers the manufacture and delivery of double-decker KISS trains, ranging in length from four to six cars. Should OEBB make use of all the vehicles in this framework agreement, Stadler will have sold more than 550 KISS trains in total, though this is the first order for these trains by Austrian Federal Railways.
Stadler will manufacture the units at its new centre of excellence for double-decker trains in St. Margrethen (Switzerland). The first call-off order is expected soon. OEBB and Stadler will publish more information on the new vehicles and the initial order in the next few weeks.
“We are extremely pleased that, after a delayed tendering process, we have now been legally awarded the contract by ÖBB. Vehicles from Stadler have been operating successfully on Austrian rails for years. The fact that we are now also able to supply the next generation of double-decker multiple-unit trains to Austria with ÖBB fills us with great pride.”
