The original agreement was revealed in October 2021, however following the announcement an unsuccessful bidder filed an appeal against the award of the contract to Stadler. The Federal Administrative Court has now rejected this objection.
The new FLIRT trains will gradually replace old rolling stock in Switzerland. Stadler will produce 155 four-part FLIRTs for SBB, 24 four-part FLIRTs for RegionAlps and 19 four- and 88 three-part FLIRTs for Thurbo. The first trains are expected to start operating in 2026. Delivery of the last vehicle from the first call-up is scheduled for 2034. The framework agreement includes an option for up to 224 additional FLIRTs.
Stadler’s FLIRT is a single-story multiple-unit train for local and long-distance transport. With the framework agreement with SBB, Stadler has sold its bestseller more than 2,500 times in 21 countries – from the Arctic Circle to Africa. The FLIRT combines intelligent, innovative design with proven technology and offers the greatest possible variability thanks to the use of proven modules.
In addition to purely electric, diesel or mixed drives, Stadler also offers the FLIRT with alternative drives such as batteries and hydrogen. For example, Stadler has supplied 55 battery-powered FLIRTs to the Schleswig-Holstein Local Transport Association and 58 battery FLIRTs to DB Regio, all in Germany. The firm is also developing the first hydrogen-powered FLIRT for the American San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). With the FLIRT battery, Stadler also holds the world record for the longest journey in a battery train in pure battery mode.
“We are incredibly proud to be able to build the new trains for the expansion of Swiss regional transport. In 2002, SBB was the first railway operator to order the then newly developed FLIRT. It is a great honor for us that, after a 20-year success story, the 2,500th FLIRT sold will now also run on Swiss rails. We would like to thank SBB, Thurbo and RegionAlps for the trust they have placed in us and look forward to further deepening our long-term cooperation,” said Peter Spuhler, chairman of the board of directors and group CEO at Stadler.