The Fribourg Transport Authority (TPF) has announced that it has commissioned Stadler to supply a set of 13 four-car FLIRT Evo multiple units for use on the TPF network.
Once the trains gradually begin to enter service in December 2028, a phased withdrawal of the currently used Domino units will begin.
The new trains, which have been valued at 117 million CHF, have been specifically designed to meet the requirements of regional transport within the area, which Stadler has stated are characterised by numerous stops and comparatively short journeys.
Wider doors will allow passengers to both board and alight quickly, and, with a top speed of 160 km/h alongside high acceleration and braking performance, the trains are expected to save valuable time and contribute to a more reliable regional rail service.
Each unit measures in at 73.5 metres in length, and offers 164 seats, as well as a total capacity of 369 passengers, including standing room. Each carriage will offer space for bicycles, pushchairs and luggage, as well as full accessibility with step-free entrances, level transitions between the front and rear entrance doors, wheelchair spaces and accessible toilets enable people with reduced mobility to use the trains independently.
The first new FLIRT Evo trains are expected to enter commercial service on the TPF network in December 2028, with a train scheduled to enter service approximately every two months. In the long term, TPF’s standard-gauge fleet will consist of 8 FLIRT and 13 FLIRT Evo trains.
Serge Collaud, Director General of TPF, said:We are very much looking forward to these new trains entering service.
Comfortable, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and offering high capacity, the FLIRT Evo trains will help us cope with the rising passenger numbers on our routes.
