A mock-up of Stadler's new dual-system train, which will operate in the future in the Karlsruhe, Saarbrücken, Neckar-Alb, Upper Austria, and Salzburg regions, was recently unveiled in Karlsruhe. The demonstration model is 22 meters long and depicts the cockpit, rows of seats, and the accessible multifunctional area.

 In a celebratory setting, managing directors of the transport companies and politicians from the regions, together with the manufacturer Stadler, unveiled the mock-up of the "TramTrains" in western Karlsruhe. The joint procurement project, in which seven partners jointly order "TramTrains" for their respective regions, has thus entered the final stage of production.

"Our passengers, representatives of people with disabilities, and employees can and should take a seat here in the coming weeks, test boarding with a wheelchair, get a feel for the new trams, and talk to vehicle experts. Together with the manufacturer Stadler, we are putting the final touches on the trams before they go into production. This is a first for us," says Christian Höglmeier, Managing Director of Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe (VBK) and Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (AVG). The Karlsruhe-based sister companies will receive around 150 new vehicles starting in 2025, including low-floor trams for the city center (VBK) and TramTrains for the region (AVG). The latter, like the trams of the Neckar-Alb regional light rail system involved in the project, will be purchased by the state of Baden-Württemberg.
The mock-up for six regions, spread across Germany and Austria, represents the forward-looking joint vehicle procurement concept. All partners share the use of so-called "tramtrains," which are both a train and a tram, thus enabling direct connections from the region to the city centers. This dual-system technology, developed in Karlsruhe, is not yet available in many cities.

As part of the project, the partners jointly developed a standard tram, which largely consists of shared elements. This resulted in six variants, which accommodate, for example, different entry heights, individual color schemes, and even the question of whether or not a restroom should be included. The mock-up can also be converted into the different variants. "The maximum standardization and the fact that we share the design planning reduce costs to as little as one million euros per vehicle," emphasizes Karlsruhe Mayor Frank Mentrup. "Many years ago, clever people with foresight turned an idea into reality, which now, in times of tight budgets due to exploding energy prices, enables the cost-effective procurement of state-of-the-art vehicles."
Saarbahn will receive the first four trams as pre-production vehicles in 2024. These will then be tested in real operation and entered the approval process. Subsequently, all other trams will be approved according to the conformity principle. "This significantly accelerates the approval process, and our passengers benefit much more quickly from modern, accessible vehicles with air conditioning and Wi-Fi," emphasizes Peter Edlinger, Managing Director of Saarbahn.
"The collaboration between the renowned manufacturer and a team of experts from a wide range of operators guarantees the highest quality. That's exactly what we want for our passengers," says Salzburg State Councilor Stefan Schnöll. "Now that the exterior design has been finalized, we're moving on to designing the interior. Working with the manufacturer on-site, we have a unique opportunity to tailor the vehicle to our needs. I'm delighted to be part of this successful cross-border collaboration!"

Photos: Stadler
"The TramTrain project required a cross-border effort from all partners. The resulting high volumes, the high degree of standardization, and the long availability provide all participants with cost advantages and access to the most modern generation of multi-system local railcars in Europe. Now, with the presentation of the first mock-up, this project is becoming tangible for the first time, and we are one step closer to deploying the vehicles in Upper Austria," explains a delighted Herbert Kubasta, Managing Director of "Schiene Oberösterreich."
"As the state of Upper Austria, being part of the joint procurement process offers numerous advantages for everyone involved. The advantages of joint ordering lie not only in the reduction of costs for procuring the TramTrain vehicles. All participants benefit from the expertise of each other. A common vehicle platform has been created that allows each vehicle to be tailored to the individual needs of each customer, similar to a tailor-made suit," says the state councilor Günther Steinkellner.
The vehicles will be produced by Stadler in Valencia, Spain. This is where the rail vehicle manufacturer's site, which specializes in the development and production of tram-trains, is located. Stadler won the Europe-wide tender at the beginning of 2022.
"The CITYLINK tram-train is the ideal solution for achieving the transport transition even in the metropolitan areas of medium-sized cities. State-of-the-art vehicles and good connections without long travel or transfer times make switching from car to train convenient. (...) This makes environmentally friendly rail mobility attractive even outside of major cities," explains Ansgar Brockmeyer, Head of Sales and Deputy CEO of the Stadler Group.
The CITYLINK is part of a modular and barrier-free light rail family specifically developed to connect city centers with surrounding metropolitan areas without the need for transfers. The vehicles can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h and can be used in both urban and regional transport. With 430 trains of this type sold, Stadler is the global leader in the tram-train segment. The vehicles can be customized to individual requirements. This includes the entry height and interior design, as well as the drivetrain, which can be either electric or hybrid, depending on the network.

www.stadlerrail.com