SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has confirmed an order for five additional 250km/h Giruno high-speed EMUs from Stadler to support expansion of cross-border services to Italy from 2026.
SBB says demand for travel to Italy has risen steadily in recent years and this is encouraging itself and Trenitalia to expand the offer, especially on the Gotthard route.
The SFr 170m ($US 191.4m) deal is an option on the original contract for 92 trains signed in 2014. SBB ordered an initial 29 trains from this framework agreement, delivery of which was completed in 2021. The fleet operates services from Basle/Zürich to Lugano/Milan as well as to Genoa, Bologna and Venice.
The first SFr 250m option from the contract for seven trains was exercised in June 2022. Delivery of these trains is expected to begin this year ahead of their entry into service between Switzerland and Germany via Basle in 2026.
The single deck, 11-car Giruno trains will be built at Stadler’s plant in Bussnang, Switzerland. The 202m-long trains provide a total 810 seats when operating in multiple. They also feature an adjustable low-floor entrance system to match the differing platform heights in Switzerland, Austria and Italy (550mm) and Germany (760mm).
Onboard, the trains offer two-times the required number of wheelchair spaces as well as accessible toilets. The trains are also equipped with onboard Wi-Fi, power sockets at all seats, large luggage racks, gender-separated toilets, and LED lighting.
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