NSB invests
in new trains
Norwegian state railway NSB confirmed on Tuesday that it will spend a whopping NOK 4 billion (nearly USD 800 million) on new passenger trains.
 NSB is set for a major upgrading of its passenger trains. PHOTO: KNUT FALCH/SCANPIX This is what the new trains will look like. PHOTO: NSB |
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Swiss firm Stadtler Rail AG won the contract from NSB, beating out Siemens of Germany, which had been tipped as the seller earlier. Other bidders included Bombardier of Canada, Ahlsom of France and CAF-Construcciones of Spain.
The purchase contract is the largest in NSB's history. It will represent a major railway improvement at a time when passengers are clamouring for more and better train service in light of high fuel prices.
The contract calls for 50 new trains from Stadtler, with an option for another 100. Each train has five carriages, and the order will provide NSB with more than 14,000 additional seats.
The new trains will be put into service beginning in 2012, after rail capacity has been expanded with the opening of a new double track west of Oslo.
The new trains will have a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour and will mostly be used in southeastern Norway, where commuter demand is heavy in the Oslo metropolitan area. Some of the trains, however, will be used in regional service and can also run between Oslo and Bergen.
NSB also has plans to invest NOK 2 billion upgrading its older trains.
Nina Berglund/NTB
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