Go Ahead for Stadler KISS in Mäleb

The competent court in Stockholm has dismissed the objection of a competitor relating to the supply of four-carriage double-decker trains to Swedish rail company Mälab. The ruling means that Stadler now has the go-ahead to fulfil the €37 million contract with Swedish leasing company Transitio for initial order for 33 Stadler KISS Trains and an option for an additional 110 vehicles.

© Stadler

The order was placed in June 2015 for the Stadler KISS trains. A competitor raised an objection to the tendering process, which has been dismissed. The first vehicle will now be delivered in 32 months. The trains will operate around around Lake Mälaren, to the west of Stockholm at a maximum speed of 200km/h. The order for Mälab is the first call-off from Transitio’s framework agreement that was concluded in 2014.

The framework agreements are with three suppliers relating to the procurement of regional trains. The agreements will last for seven years. Stadler is the only supplier permitted to supply two different types of vehicles – the single-decker Stadler FLIRT and the double-decker Stadler KISS trains. For the first time, the KISS vehicles will be compatible with Stadler’s FLIRT trains, enabling a mixed fleet of single and double decker trains.

Stadler vehicles are also resilient in extreme weather conditions, such as the winter cold in Sweden. Their experience in Norway, Finland, Estonia, Russia and Belarus has given Stadler the experience to provide reliable trains in extreme cold. Features such as closed engine rooms, double-wall intercar gangways, snow scrapers between the bogies and carriage bodies, a heat recovery system, floor heating and high-quality insulation have been developed specifically. Additionally, the lightweight design of the bodies of the carriages enable trains to accelerate rapidly, lowering emissions and costs.

KISS trains operate in six European countries. The next generation of double-decker trains have an open, fluid design to allow for rapid embarkation and disembarkation – a particular advantage in busy urban stations. The trains also provide more legroom for passengers. The KISS vehicles for Mälab have been adapted to meet the Swedish clearance profile, which is higher than the Swiss standard.

Peter Spuhler, owner and CEO of Stadler Rail Group, said:

“We are very pleased about the court’s decision and are proud that we are able to continue supplying trains to Sweden.”

Stadler opened a maintenance site in Stockholm earlier this year. As part of this order, they will use Swedish suppliers and designers.