The order contains the option to furnish an additional 77 trains, bringing the total order to 100 trains. Credit: Deutsche Bahn.

Knorr-Bremse has secured a contract from Spanish train manufacturer Talgo to deliver equipment for ECx long-distance passenger trains.

Valued at ‘mid-tens of millions’ of Euros, the order will involve delivering braking systems, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and other components for 23 trains. The contract also includes the option to equip 77 additional vehicles.

These ECx trains will be used by Deutsche Bahn for national and international long-distance services.

Knorr-Bremse executive board member Dr Jürgen Wilder said: “Passenger trains are a vital part of the overall rail system. Alongside high-speed services, they carry a large share of passengers between individual cities and regions, thus helping to relieve congestion on roads.

“In this respect, we are delighted to work with our partner Talgo in providing more attractive, comfortable and highly available long-distance mobility with our system technologies.”

As agreed, Knorr-Bremse will provide braking, HVAC and entrance systems and windscreen wiper units to Talgo from the first quarter of this year.

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The braking systems will be equipped with the EP Compact brake control, VV-270T compressors, steel brake discs and brake pads.

The company said that the locomotives will also feature magnetic track brakes.

Knorr-Bremse’s global subsidiary Merak will be delivering the air-conditioning solutions while another subsidiary, IFE, will provide E3D-e1 doors.

The trains will also be equipped with windscreen wiper systems, which will feature electro-pneumatic control modules.

The ECx passenger trains are slated to complete testing next year. Subsequently, the trains will successively replace older ICE1 trains from 2023.

In 2023, the new ECx trains are expected to commence services on the Berlin-Amsterdam route and other routes, providing shorter journey times and increased availability and barrier-free mobility.

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