Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is procuring 29 new multiple-unit trains for its North-South services from Stadler Rail, in a deal worth CHF1bn ($1.14bn).
Stadler Rail has won the contract in a tender procedure launched by SBB in April 2012 over other competitors, including Alstom and Talgo.
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SBB CEO Andreas Meyer said: "The decision was clear: Stadler Rail best met the tender criteria by far and is offering us a customer-friendly train."
The new trains can accommodate 800 people and will be operated on Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels, which are yet to be opened.
These 400m sets with low-floor boarding will have two power cars and will operate at speeds of up to 249km/h.
Expected to enter service by the end of 2019, they will eventually replace the ICN and ETR 610 tilting trains on the Gotthard route.
The ETR 610 trains will be run on the Simplon line and the ICNs on sinuous routes along the southern foot of the Jura.
SBB is also securing contractual options to procure 92 additional units. The contract will be signed at the beginning of June.
SBB Passenger Division head Jeannine Pilloud said: "We want the best train for our customers. When it came to the train’s design, customer focus was the top priority and the technology being used is tried-and-tested."
Image: Gothard rail tunnel, entry from the Zurich side. Photo: courtesy of Audrius Meskauskas.
