Think Railways

The Swiss federal railway operator, SBB has awarded Alstom a contract worth around EUR 115 million by - for the supply of four Pendolino high speed trains. The first two trains will be delivered in 2016 and the two others in 2017. The trains will run between Milan and Geneva or Bern–Basel and between Milan and Zurich or Luzern–Basel, to cope with the increase of passengers on those lines.

The seven-car train set can accommodate up to 430 passengers at a commercial top speed of 250 km/h. It is equipped with the latest generation of flexible bogies reducing track and wheel wear. It also benefits from Alstom’s unique tilting technology that allows for trains to run safely at a speed 35% faster through curves on conventional lines.

Designed to be eco-friendly, Pendolino is 95% recyclable and is equipped with an electric braking system enabling almost 10% reduction in energy consumption.

With this new order, which is exercised as an option, the total fleet of Pendolino trains owned by SBB will be 19.

The trains will be made in Alstom’s Savigliano site in Italy, where Pendolino trains have been manufactured for more than 30 years.