Innovative train concept with roll compensation based on proven technology
Three Swiss Bombardier sites playing major roles in the largest order in the history of the SBB
Bombardier Transportation has won the tender from SBB, the Swiss Railways, to supply new double-deck trains for inter-city rail travel. The contract for 59 BOMBARDIER TWINDEXX trains has a total value of around 1.8 billion Swiss francs (1.3 billion euros, $1.6 billion US). This makes the TWINDEXX project the largest vehicle order in the SBB‘s history. The contract also includes options for more than 100 additional TWINDEXX trains.
André Navarri, President of Bombardier Transportation, commented on the decision: “We would like to thank the SBB for placing their trust in us and are very much looking forward to continuing this successful collaboration. Switzerland has always played an important role for Bombardier, both as a market and as a production location. The three Swiss sites with 900 employees are not only a fixture in the country’s traditional rail industry but are also important elements of our international network of innovation and production. The TWINDEXX trains open a new chapter in this success story.”
Stéphane Wettstein, Chief Country Representative of Bombardier Transportation in Switzerland, said: “The TWINDEXX double-deck train, with its innovative roll compensation, is a future-oriented concept, yet it also employs tried and tested elements of technology. The TWINDEXX trains are not only extremely comfortable but, thanks to their low operating costs, offer long-term added value in economic terms as well. The decision is also really good news for employees in Switzerland. Our sites in Villeneuve, Zürich and Winterthur are going to benefit considerably from this collaboration. They share a leading role in the project together with our Competence Center for Double-Deck Technology in Görlitz, Germany.”
At the signing of the contract, Andreas Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of the SBB, commented: “Looked at objectively, Bombardier best fulfilled the wide-ranging criteria to win the contract. The up-to-date, customer-friendly trains and a further improved product range offer numerous, noticeable advantages for our customers. What is more, the roll compensation means that we can also save more time, improving punctuality and reducing missed connections. This is an important step towards improving our own service.“
The 59 trains consist of a total of 436 fully air-conditioned carriages providing over 36,000 seats. The train concept was developed by the Bombardier Transportation Competence Center for Double-Deck Technology in Görlitz. Görlitz can look back at a record of more than 2,500 double-deck cars that have been produced since the 1990’s that were tailor-made for various international markets.
Features of the TWINDEXX trains that will increase passenger comfort include spacious interior compartments, wide doors for entry and exit, wireless internet access and business class compartments. The trains are fitted with electronic customer information and emergency call systems as well as CCTV.
The roll compensation BOMBARDIER FLEXX Tronic WAKO system is one of the key technical elements of the TWINDEXX trains. It was developed by the Bombardier Competence Center for Bogie Design in Winterthur. This mechatronic technology merges proven technical components into an innovative system. FLEXX Tronic WAKO compensates the natural roll movement of the carbody maximizing comfort for passengers and at the same time allowing the train to take corners particularly quickly. With this technology, double-deck intercity trains will be able to increase their speed in curves by 15%, thus significantly reducing travel time. Compared to other systems, where some passengers complain of motion sickness, the carbodies will tilt only to a very limited degree.
Reduction in energy consumption by ten percent has been achieved thanks to a selection of BOMBARDIER ECO4 products. The BOMBARDIER MITRAC Permanent Magnet Motor is the main contributor in combination with further ECO4 technologies like the ThermoEfficient Climatization System and the Energy Management Control System. These technologies contribute to the economical life cycle costs and ecological impact of the trains but also the excellent performance.
Both the Bombardier site in Zürich and the Villeneuve factory will increase their capacity in order to complete the project. The TWINDEXX project will be managed from Zürich, while Villeneuve – the only rail production site in western Switzerland – will be responsible for producing the vehicles together with Görlitz. Görlitz is also taking the lead in the engineering process. The Winterthur site will design the bogies, while production will take place in Siegen, Germany. The Swedish site of Västeras will be responsible for the drive system with the super-efficient permanent magnet motors.
Delivery of the TWINDEXX trains will begin in 2012, and the first vehicles will feature in the standard timetables from December 2013. All 59 trains will be delivered by the end of 2019.
About Bombardier Transportation Switzerland
Bombardier Transportation is represented in Switzerland at the three sites of Zurich, Villeneuve and Winterthur, where it employs 900 people. Six companies from the traditional Swiss rail industry merged to form today’s Bombardier Transport in Switzerland. These have a history of rail transport going back as far as 150 years. In Switzerland, Bombardier develops and manufactures commuter and regional transport trains as well as suburban rail vehicles and trams. Zurich is also the location of the international group's headquarters for development, engineering and project management for the production of electric locomotives. Zürich is also the corporate centre of expertise for propulsion and control technology for locomotives and high-speed trains. Across the group Winterthur is a centre of expertise for the development of bogies. Bombardier's Villeneuve factory is the only rail production site in western Switzerland. Bombardier Transportation Switzerland’s vehicle projects include: the SBB's ICN and IC-2000 inter-city fleets; the NINA commuter trains; the Regional Express and Jumbo cars for the BLS; the INOVA low-floor intermediate coaches for the SBB; the Cobra trams for the Zürich Public Transport (VBZ) and BOMBARDIER FLEXITY Outlook for the Transports Publics Genevois in Geneva; and the BOMBARDIER TRAXX locomotives for the SBB Cargo and BLS Cargo. Additionally, its range includes a variety of services including maintenance for different rail operators.
About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. BOMBARDIER ECO4 technologies – built on the four cornerstones of energy, efficiency, economy and ecology – conserve energy, protect the environment and help to improve total train performance. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany and has a presence in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2010, were $19.4 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com
Photos: . Interior and exterior renderings of the TWINDEXX trains for SBB
BOMBARDIER, TWINDEXX, FLEXX, WAKO, ECO4, MITRAC, FLEXITY and TRAXX are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Source d’information
Canada et États-Unis : +1 450 441 3007
Marc-André Lefebvre
Maryanne Roberts
Allemagne, Autriche, Suisse, Europe centrale et orientale : +49 30 98607 1134
Heiner Spannuth
Pays nordiques : +46 10 852 5062
Jonny Hedberg
Russie : +7 495 775 1830
Alexander Bocharov
Royaume-Uni, Irlande, Australie, Nouvelle-Zélande, autres pays : +44 1332 266470
Neil Harvey
Benelux : +49 30 98607 1141
Janet Olthof
France : +33 6 07 78 95 38
Anne Froger
Europe du Sud, Brésil et Inde : +35 1 919 693 728
Luis Ramos