SwitzerlandÔÇÖs federal railways company SBB has awarded a CHF 1.9 billion (Ôé¼1.3 billion) contract for high-tech, energy efficient trains to the Swiss arm of CanadaÔÇÖs Bombardier Transportation.
Delivery of the first of the 59 double-decker trains, which will use around 10 per cent less energy than current models, will take place between 2012 and 2019, with operation commencing on SBBÔÇÖs long-distance services in 2013. SBB has also taken an option to order a further 100 units.
The first vehicles are expected to be phased in on the St. GallenÔÇôZurichÔÇôBerneÔÇôGeneva and RomanshornÔÇôZurichÔÇôBerneÔÇôBrig InterCity routes, and on InterRegio services between Zurich and Lucerne. More trains will then be introduced throughout Switzerland.
The rolling stock will have to meet requirements for a greater number of seats and higher speeds around curves, and must also be able to operate in Germany and Austria. The units will be produced in Villeneuve, Switzerland, and Goerlitz, Germany.
Commenting on the deal, SBB CEO Andreas Meyer, said: "Objectively, Bombardier's was the bid that best matched our specifications and offered us a very customer-friendly train. Modern trains and a further improved offering will provide our customers with numerous tangible benefits.
ÔÇ£What is more, the passive tilt capability of these trains will give us additional journey-time leeway throughout the network. This increases punctuality and leads to fewer missed connections. It is an important step in the continued improvement of our offering.ÔÇØ
The contract represents SBBÔÇÖs largest purchase of rolling stock in its 108-year history. The company is investing about CHF 20 billion over the next 20 years to improve SwitzerlandÔÇÖs regional and long-distance railways, which carry about 900,000 passengers each dayÔÇö12 per cent of the countryÔÇÖs population.
SBB's current long-distance fleet consists of a mixture of double-deck trains, tilting trains and conventional single-deck trains, the oldest of which have been in service for over 40 years.
Rival bidders for the contract were Germany's Siemens and the Swiss lightweight railway car producer Stadler Rail, who both also have significant operations in Switzerland.
Bombardier, which had been working on its bid since 2008, has previously developed double-deck intercity trains in Switzerland in partnerships with FranceÔÇÖs Alstom, with delivery taking place between 1996 and 2004. Around 80 per cent of everything BombardierÔÇÖs Swiss unit manufactures in the country is used there, with the remainder exported mainly to Germany and Russia.
SBB is Switzerland's fourth biggest employer, with a headcount of 28,000. In 2009, it placed around CHF 3.5 billion of orders, 87 per cent of which was awarded to companies in Switzerland. SBB estimates it therefore secured the equivalent of 16,000 full-time jobs at Swiss companies in 2009.
