[CH] Contract for 286 multiple units for regional services: court ruled in favour of SBB.

[Ronny Maarud]

In October 2021 Stadler was awarded the contract for 286 single-deck multiple units. The Federal Administrative Court confirms the award of the contract to Stadler and has dismissed Alstom's appeal.

Together with its subsidiaries Thurbo and RegionAlps, SBB is procuring 286 single-deck multiple-unit trains for regional transport. Stadler was awarded the contract for this order. The unsuccessful bidder, Alstom, appealed against this decision to the Federal Administrative Court. The court has now dismissed the appeal. This court decision confirms that SBB complied with the requirements of procurement law and the equal treatment of bidders during the tendering procedure. After signing the contract, Stadler can start building the 286 multiple units for regional transport. The legal proceedings initiated by Alstom have an impact on the delivery of the vehicles. The first trains will now not enter service until 2026 instead of December 2025 as originally planned. The new trains will gradually replace the following rolling stock until 2034:

• at SBB: Domino, Flirt (first generation). • at Thurbo: articulated railcars. • at RegionAlps: Domino and Nina.

The newly procured vehicles will help all three railway companies to implement their planned improvements to services as well as the service expansion projects planned by the Confederation and the Cantons.

[Ronny Maarud]

The new multiple units will provide several improvements for customers.

The new trains will offer more storage space for bikes, pushchairs, and large items of luggage than the vehicles currently in use. They will also ensure good mobile phone coverage and data reception and will be equipped with power sockets in every compartment. The trains will meet the requirements of passengers with restricted mobility and will provide two spaces for wheelchair-users as well as a wheelchair-accessible toilet. Wheelchair spaces will be available in 1st class for the first time. Thanks to better motorisation, the new multiple units will also make a significant contribution to improving punctuality. The new trains will be authorised to operate in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

[Ronny Maarud]

Objection rejected: Award of framework agreement for up to 510 FLIRT trains to Stadler confirmed

In October 2021, Stadler emerged as the winner of the tender held by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Thurbo and RegionAlps to award a framework agreement for up to 510 single-decker FLIRT multiple units. An unsuccessful bidder had filed an appeal against the award, but the Federal Administrative Court has now rejected this objection.

In October 2021, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Thurbo and RegionAlps awarded Stadler a framework agreement for the manufacture and delivery of up to 510 single-decker FLIRT multiple units. The Swiss Federal Administrative Court has rejected the objection of an unsuccessful bidder from last year. Consequently, Stadler has come out on top in another hard-fought international tender with its proven FLIRT vehicle concept.

In an initial call-off, the order of 286 FLIRT with an order volume of around 2 billion Swiss francs is planned . The framework agreement includes an option for up to 224 additional FLIRT vehicles. Further information on the trains will be released after the contract has been signed.