The 2009 European Capital of Culture selects Bombardier once again
Bombardier Transportation has received an order from the Austrian transport operator, LINZ LINIEN GmbH to supply 23 BOMBARDIER FLEXITY Outlook trams.The order is valued at approximately 69 million euros ($97 million US).
With this order, Linz has once again opted for Bombardier’s trusted trams. The FLEXITY Outlook vehicles, called „Cityrunners“, have been in use in Linz since 2001. At the end of May 2009, a further milestone in the collaboration of the two partners was achieved during the launch of the new Pöstlingbergbahn in a retro-design.
The new FLEXITY Outlook trams are manufactured at Bombardier’s factories in Vienna (Austria) and Bautzen (Germany). Delivery of the first vehicles is planned for the beginning of 2011.
Grego Peters, President, Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation said: „The design of the new vehicle was developed together with LINZ LINIEN GmbH and is based on operating experience gained with the existing tram fleet. Linz chose Bombardier once again, which makes us very proud. It shows that the customer is satisfied with our products and marks the continuation of our long-term and successful cooperation.“
The new tram on order for Linz is a further development of the 33 Cityrunners, which are already in successful revenue service in the city. The FLEXITY Outlook vehicles are 40 m long, 2.3 m wide and are able to accommodate 224 passengers. The functional interior design elements of the new vehicle integrate many years of day-to-day operational experience. The vehicles are reliable and suitable for people with special needs. The enhanced passenger comfort results from the combination of 100% low-floor technology and conventional wheel-set bogies. The exterior design of the new vehicles corresponds to the Corporate Design of the LINZ AG.
The FLEXITY Outlook trams, used by Linz since 2001, were the first 100% low-floor trams with conventional wheel-set bogies. They offer an entirely step-less interior and therefore increased passenger comfort. At the same time, they are easy to maintain. This model was used to develop vehicles for Brussels (Belgium), Innsbruck (Austria), Marseille (France), Geneva (Switzerland), Valencia and Alicante (Spain) as well as Eskisehir (Turkey). The FLEXITY Outlook trams will also soon be used in Palermo (Italy) as well as in Augsburg and Krefeld (Germany). Altogether, more than 450 100% low-floor FLEXITY vehicles have been ordered.
Graduate engineer Walter Rathberger, Presiding Board Member of LINZ AG added: „The outstanding satisfaction of our passengers and the extreme confidence in the technical expertise of Bombardier greatly contributed to the decision to award the contract anew.“
About LINZ AG
LINZ AG (Energy, Telecommunications, Traffic and Municipal Services) is the energy and infrastructure service supplier for Linz and parts of upper Austria. The orientation as a multi-utility service provider enables the enterprise to offer a wide range of products and services, such as electric power, natural gas, heating, telecommunications as well as water supply, waste and wastewater disposal, local public transport and municipal services. The entire service area of the LINZ AG comprises 105 communities not including Linz with an area of nearly 2,300 km2. In fiscal year 2008, LINZ AG achieved revenues of 600 million euros with a workforce of 2,668 employees.
About LINZ LINIEN GmbH
LINZ LINIEN GmbH, a subsidiary company of LINZ AG, runs the local public transport system in Linz. The route network, longer than 180 km, is divided into 3 tram lines, 21 bus lines and 4 trolley bus lines as well as the Pöstlingbergbahn. Nearly 96 million passengers used LINZ AG LINIEN in fiscal year 2008.
About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation, the 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, 2009, were $19.7 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.
BOMBARDIER, FLEXITY and ECO4 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
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