The trains will run under the Cityjet brand, along the Kamptalbahn in Lower Austria. This first order with Stadler is worth up to €194m.
“The new battery-powered multiple units are a milestone toward the decarbonization of regional rail transport. As the name suggests, the trains can run on battery power on non-electrified sections. This means that we can do without diesel-powered trains on these routes,” said ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä.
Christian Diewald, managing director of Stadler Austria, added, “We are delighted to be bringing our battery-powered version of Stadler's bestseller FLIRT to Austria. To meet its climate targets, Stadler has invested in green drive solutions. With this award, Stadler has already been able to sell more than 150 vehicles with alternative drive systems in seven countries, once again confirming its leading position in resource-saving drives.”
The use of the battery-powered multiple units will save up to 1.7 million liters of diesel per year, according to ÖBB. This corresponds to around 4,250 tons of CO2. For comparison, this is the annual CO2 consumption of around 600 Austrians. At the same time, travelers in Lower Austria will benefit from shorter travel times, partly due to the faster acceleration of vehicles.
The new Cityjet battery-powered multiple units, which are manufactured at the Stadler site in Bussnang, are three-cars, approximately 63m-long and can travel at speeds of up to 160km/h. With an expected capacity of 160 seats, the new trains offer more capacity, which is mainly needed for the busy trains during rush hours.