For Stadler, the contract also represents a key milestone in its history, as it is the largest single order for rack railways that it has ever received.
The contract represents the second stage of the Orion roll-out project. In 2020, Stadler was awarded a contract to supply 12 Orion EMUs, with the first of these now up and running on the MGBahn timetable. Delivery of this first stage contract will be completed by the end of 2023.
Production of the 25 Orion three-part trainsets, meanwhile, will start at the beginning of 2025. Delivery of the first train is planned for the autumn of the same year, which will be put into operation in the first quarter of 2026. The plan is for another vehicle to be delivered every six weeks.
The total value of both contracts for all 37 trains is approximately CHF 420m (€436m).
Dr Ansgar Brockmeyer, division manager, sales and marketing at Stadler, said, “MGBahn and Stadler have been working closely together for decades. We are proud to see how MGBahn is modernizing its fleet with our reliable and high-quality trains and are pleased that we will now provide them with another 25 Orion multiple units.”
The multiple units can be used on the entire MGBahn route network between Zermatt and Disentis. They can operate in single, double, or triple units and offer up to 438 seats, 72 of which are in first class. In addition to the consistent use of lightweight vehicle construction materials, the Orions are characterized by energy-efficient drive components of the latest generation, energy optimization in sleep mode and low energy consumption due to oil-free dry-type transformers. The Orions replace older locomotives and the associated passenger cars.