Swiss double-decker trains for Russia

Russia’s Aeroexpress and the Swiss railway equipment manufacturer Stadler Rail Group have signed a contract worth some 350 million euros for double-deck rolling stock. At the contract-signing ceremony, Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin noted that the trains currently serving the routes between Moscow rail terminals and its airports are of insufficient capacity; the new rolling stock will be put into operation on these routes.

Peter Spuhler, president of Stadler Rail Group, said: “The contract with Aeroexpress for the development and delivery of double-deck rolling stock has been one of the biggest contracts signed by Stadler to date in Russia. Our trains have already proven themselves in many countries, such as Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Luxemburg, and we are very pleased that soon Russians will also be able to assess them at their true value.”

By May 2016, Stadler will have delivered 118 railcars to Russia, comprising 16 four-railcar sets and nine six-railcar sets (there is an option for a further 54 railcars). The trains will be based on the already well-known Swiss KISS trains, and the railcars will be produced of light aluminium for
lower operating costs.