In Karlsruhe, the mock-up of Stadler's new dual-system train was unveiled. This train is intended to operate in the Karlsruhe, Saarbrücken, Neckar-Alb region, Upper Austria, and Salzburg area. The demonstration model is 22 meters long and depicts the cockpit, seating rows, and the accessible multi-purpose area.
In a festive ceremony in western Karlsruhe, managing directors of transport companies and politicians from the regions, together with the manufacturer Stadler, unveiled the mock-up of the "TramTrains." The joint procurement project, in which seven partners are jointly ordering "TramTrains" for their respective regions, has thus entered its final stage towards production.
“Our passengers, disability representatives, and employees are welcome and encouraged to take a seat here in the coming weeks, test the wheelchair access, get a feel for the new trams, and talk to vehicle experts. Together with the manufacturer Stadler, we are putting the finishing touches on the trams before they go into production. This is a first for us,” said Christian Höglmeier, Managing Director of the Karlsruhe Transport Authority (VBK) and the Albtal Transport Company (AVG). The Karlsruhe sister companies will receive around 150 new vehicles together starting in 2025, including low-floor trams for the city center (VBK) and TramTrains for the region (AVG). The latter, as well as the trams for the Neckar-Alb regional light rail system, which is also involved in the project, will be purchased by the state of Baden-Württemberg.
The mock-up for six regions, spread across Germany and Austria, represents the forward-looking joint vehicle procurement concept. All partners share the use of so-called "TramTrains," which are both railway and tram systems, thus enabling direct, transfer-free connections from the region to the city centers. This dual-system technology, developed in Karlsruhe, is not yet available in many cities.
As part of the project, the partners jointly developed a standard tram design, largely comprised of shared elements. This resulted in six variants that accommodate different boarding heights, individual color schemes, and even the inclusion of a toilet. The mock-up can also be adapted to these different variants. "Maximum standardization and the fact that we share the design planning reduce costs to as little as one million euros per vehicle," emphasizes Karlsruhe's Mayor Frank Mentrup. "Many years ago, some bright, forward-thinking individuals turned an idea into reality, which now, in times of tight budgets due to soaring energy prices, enables the cost-effective procurement of state-of-the-art vehicles."
Saarbahn will receive the first four trams as pre-series vehicles in 2024. These will then be tested in real-world operation and undergo the approval process. Subsequently, all further trams will be approved according to the conformity principle. “This significantly accelerates the approval process, and our passengers will benefit much faster from modern, accessible vehicles with air conditioning and Wi-Fi,” emphasizes Peter Edlinger, Managing Director of Saarbahn.
“The collaboration with the renowned manufacturer and the cooperation of a team of experts from various operators guarantee the highest quality. That’s exactly what we want for our passengers,” says Salzburg State Councillor Stefan Schnöll. “Now that the exterior design has been finalized, we can move on to designing the interior. Designing the vehicle’s interior ourselves, directly on-site with the manufacturer, offers us the unique opportunity to tailor the vehicle to our needs. I am delighted that we are part of this successful cross-border collaboration!”
Photos: Stadler
“The TramTrain project required a concerted, cross-border effort from all partners. The resulting high production volumes, the extensive standardization, and the long-term availability offer all participants cost advantages and access to the most modern generation of multi-system regional rail vehicles in Europe. Now, with the presentation of the first mock-up, this project is becoming tangible for the first time, bringing us one step closer to deploying the vehicles in Upper Austria,” says Herbert Kubasta, Managing Director of “Schiene Oberösterreich” (Upper Austria Rail).
“Being part of the joint procurement process as the State of Upper Austria offers numerous advantages for all involved. The benefits of a joint order extend beyond simply reducing the costs of procuring the TramTrain vehicles. All participants benefit from each other’s expertise. A common vehicle platform has been created that allows each vehicle to be tailored to the individual needs of the respective customer, much like a bespoke suit,” adds Günther Steinkellner, the regional councilor for Upper Austria.
The vehicles are being produced by Stadler in Valencia, Spain. The site of the rail vehicle manufacturer, which specializes in the development and production of "TramTrains," is located there. Stadler won the Europe-wide tender in early 2022.
"The CITYLINK TramTrain is the ideal solution for achieving the transport revolution in the metropolitan areas of medium-sized cities. State-of-the-art vehicles and good connections without long travel or transfer times make switching from car to train comfortable. (...) This makes environmentally friendly rail mobility attractive even outside of major cities," explains Ansgar Brockmeyer, Head of Sales and Deputy CEO of the Stadler Group.
The CITYLINK belongs to a modular and barrier-free family of light rail vehicles that was specifically developed to connect city centers with the surrounding metropolitan areas without requiring transfers. The vehicles reach speeds of up to 100 km/h and can be used in urban transport as well as regional transport. With 430 trains of this type sold, Stadler is the world leader in the tram-train segment. The vehicles can be individually customized. This includes not only the boarding height and interior design, but also the powertrain, which can be either electric or hybrid, depending on the network.
