Stadler has signed an agreement with Deutsche Bahn (DB) Netz to retrofit up to 80 maintenance and track service vehicles with its GUARDIA ETCS Baseline 3.6.0 train control system, after winning the Europe-wide tender.
This will increase the reliability, efficiency and safety of the vehicles, as the latest iteration of ETCS offers more operative functions.
This is the first large scale implementation of the GUARDIA system on DB maintenance vehicles and only the second time any DB vehicle has been fitted with this solution.
During a pilot project, the GUARDIA system was fitted onto the DB Advanced Train Lab of the series BR 605 – exhibited at Innotrans 2022 – and two BR 185.2 locomotives.
Eight 711.1 and 741.X series maintenance and track service vehicles will be the first to be fitted with the system under the new contract. These will enter service across DB Netz’s German and Swiss networks from next year.
The contract then includes an option for the retrofit of up to another 72 vehicles.
“We're very proud to be handling this future-oriented order for Deutsche Bahn.
“This decision reflects the trust in Stadler’s GUARDIA ETCS solution that was built during the pilot project.
“By retrofitting the infrastructure-relevant maintenance and track service vehicles, we’re making an important contribution to digitalising the German rail network.”
