Stadler wins the largest contract in its history
Bussnang TG - Stadler has been awarded a contract with a value of up to 4 billion euros by a German-Austrian project consortium. This is the largest contract in the history of rail vehicle construction company. In addition, the procurement concept implemented is also unique worldwide.
Stadler has emerged victorious in an international tender process held by a German-Austrian project consortium for a contract with a total volume of up to 4 billion euros. This represents the largest contract in the history of the rail vehicle construction company based in the St.GallenBodenseeArea, as detailed in a press release. Under the terms of the contract, the six transport companies from Germany and Austria that make up the consortium can order up to 504 tram-train vehicles.
The framework agreement provides for a fixed order quantity for the construction of 246 Citylink trams over the next ten years at a value of 1.7 billion euros. Moreover, the companies have the additional option of ordering up to 258 further vehicles. In addition to vehicle production, the framework agreement also includes a maintenance contract lasting up to 32 years.
The first four vehicles are expected to be delivered to Saarbahn, the local transport authority in Saarbrücken, in 2024. The other parties involved in the consortium include the municipal transport company of the city of Karlsruhe (VBK), Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (AVG), a company owned by the city of Karlsruhe that operates rail and bus services in the Karlsruhe area, the railway company for the state of Upper Austria, Schiene Oberösterreich, the Austrian federal state of Salzburg and the special purpose association for the Regional-Stadtbahn Neckar-Alb rail transport project.
VBK is responsible for the overall project management and was also in charge of coordinating the tendering phase of the project, which involved the implementation of a procurement concept that Christian Höglmeier, VBK technical managing director, describes as “unique worldwide to date” in the press release.
The six transport companies are firm believers in the Stadler tram-train concept. Their plan is to “link large cities with their respective regions according to the Karlsruhe model” so that passengers can travel “directly into the center quickly without having to change trains”, Höglmeier explains further. Stadler’s Citylink trams can also be configured for use as inter-city trains.
“With Citylink, we are looking forward to providing our six customers with a mobility solution that will connect the city and the surrounding area without passengers having to change trains, thereby developing travel in a sustainable and comfortable way”, comments Peter Spuhler, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Group CEO a.i. of Stadler, in the press release.