WESTbahn, Swiss train manufacturer Stadler and Austrian Train Finance AG have signed a contract for 15 six-car double-decker multiple-unit trains; the order value is just under 300 million euros.

The new intercity trains for the Vienna–Salzburg line will replace the existing WESTbahn fleet, which will be sold to Deutsche Bahn (DB).

The China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) also applied for the contract; Stadler said it succeeded in defeating the CRRC bid thanks to its overall package comprising rail vehicles, a maintenance solution and financing.

WESTbahn announced on 21 July that it would be selling its entire current train fleet to DB. However, because the first-generation WESTbahn trains are not yet approved for Germany and the second-generation vehicles are yet to receive an upgrade from 160 to 200kph, Stadler will undertake the conversion of the 17 trains being sold to DB.

Stadler chairman Peter Spuhler (www.stadlerrail.com) said: “I am proud that we can supply WESTbahn with further ‘state of the art’ intercity double-decker trains, and that this contract will enable us to further expand ourservice business. I am also pleased that we prevailed against the Chinese, thanks to our attractive customer-specific overall package.”

Last month, the state-owned Spanish Administration of Railway Infrastructure signed a contract with Stadler for 22 rescue locomotives (in a consortium with Erion); this includes maintenance of the vehicles for a period of eight years.

These locomotives are based on the ‘light series’ locomotive platform; they will be used on the standard-gauge Spanish rail network to carry out high-speed railway line inspections, rescue operations involving stranded trains, snow clearance and hauling maintenance trains weighing up to 600 tonnes.

Able to operate in all weather conditions between +45°C and -25°C, the locomotives are high-power four-axle diesel electric units with AC/AC transmission and low axle load, fully complying with all European standards.