After ordering another eight Variobahn trams that take its fleet of Stadler (www.stadlerrail.com) vehicles to a total of 107, Bogestra has become the first local public-transport operator in Germany to have a ‘fleet size reaching three digits’.

The new low-floor trains are intended for use on the 1m-gauge network in the urban areas of Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Hattingen and Witten; the five-car bi-directional vehicles can carry more than 165 people.

According to the contract, they are due to be delivered from mid-2021 onwards.

Earlier last month, Stadler won a contract from the Schleswig Holstein public-transport authority for 55 battery-powered Flirt Akku multiple units.

Stadler came out on top in the first non-technology-specific competitive tender for vehicles with alternative drive systems (no diesel) in Germany.

A 10-day objection period followed notification to the losing bidders that Stadler was to be awarded the contract (Stadler presented its battery-powered Flirt vehicle to the public for the first time at InnoTrans 2018).

Stadler’s contract also includes maintenance of the vehicles for 30 years.