According to ÖBB, the €1.3 billion framework agreement has a term of 10 years. The first 16 FLIRT vehicles are expected to be in service along the Kamptalbahn from 2028 and are a further measure taken by ÖBB to decarbonize rail transport in Austria.
Stadler noted that this contract and its recent successes in the USA, Germany, and Italy, have confirmed its leading position in battery and hydrogen green propulsion technology.
“If we are to meet the climate targets, rail transport in turn must become even more sustainable. That is why Stadler has invested heavily in green propulsion solutions to replace diesel fleets and has established its position as a leading provider of sustainable rail transport in recent years – both in Europe and the USA. We are delighted to be working with ÖBB to drive forward the decarbonization of rail transport in Austria,” said Peter Spuhler, chairman of Stadler’s board of directors.
The new trains are FLIRT Akku vehicles – the battery-powered version of Stadler’s best-selling FLIRT model, which has already sold over 2,500 units worldwide. They are intended for use in the eastern region in Austria, where they will replace the current diesel fleet.
Stadler has more than 80 years of experience in the construction of battery-powered rail vehicles. Its modern battery-powered vehicles can run both with and without overhead contact lines, and can be recharged during operation or even when braking. The FLIRT Akku is the battery-operated version of Stadler’s FLIRT model.
The vehicle has an operating range of around 100km. This means that the regional train can be battery operated on almost all the non-electrified routes in Austria, for example. After successfully covering 224km in battery-only mode, the FLIRT Akku holds the world record for the longest journey travelled by a regional train in battery-only mode without additional charging.
As well as delivering new trains for ÖBB, Stadler is also supplying 55 FLIRT Akku vehicles for the Schleswig-Holstein local transport network, 44 trains for the Palatinate network and 14 trains for Deutsche Bahn’s H-Netz. The vehicles for Schleswig-Holstein are currently undergoing approval tests and will start passenger service later this year. In addition, Stadler is also manufacturing six FLIRT Akku for the Lithuanian rail operator LTG Link.
Hydrogen propulsion
In addition to battery-powered trains, Stadler is also pushing ahead with the development of rail vehicles that run on hydrogen. These allow low-emission rail operation, especially on lines without an overhead contact line. Stadler designed and built the first multiple units with hydrogen propulsion for SBCTA in California (USA). After a successful test phase this spring, the vehicle is due to start operating in 2024.
Stadler is also supplying the world’s first narrow-gauge trains with hydrogen propulsion for the Italian regions of Calabria and Sardinia.