AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has confirmed a 10-year framework agreement with Siemens for the supply of up to 540 single-deck EMUs.
The total value of the contract could be worth more than €5bn. ÖBB says the trains are intended for intra-Alpine long-distance transport and for use on local services in several federal states. Responding to a question from IRJ, Siemens says the trains could also be used on cross-border services. They are expected to enter service from 2028.
Siemens adds that further details of the trains, such as the configuration and passenger amenities, will be revealed when the first firm order from the framework contract is confirmed. However, the supplier did say that the order will mark in a new development in its Mireo train platform and that all the trains included in the framework will be electric.
“Siemens Mobility and ÖBB have long enjoyed a strong and trusting partnership,” says Siemens Mobility CEO, Mr Michael Peter. “We are proud to be delivering a further development of the Mireo platform to ÖBB for the company’s new fleets. With numerous innovations, low energy consumption, and a high level of passenger comfort and convenience, the new Mireo trains will help make ÖBB’s local and regional transport even more attractive.”
ÖBB says it is already investing €4.7bn in updates to its train fleet. It recently confirmed a roughly €600m order with Stadler for a mix of single and double-deck trains under an existing framework contract. It also awarded the Swiss supplier a €1.3bn framework contract for the supply of up to 120 battery trains in July. ÖBB ordered an additional 27 Desiro EMUs from Siemens in March, adding to the 246 already ordered with more than 200 of the trains now in service throughout Austria.
