SSIF Expands Fleet with Additional Stadler Narrow-Gauge Trains, Supported by EU Funding

SSIF Expands Fleet with Additional Stadler Narrow-Gauge Trains, Supported by EU Funding

(IN BRIEF) The Italian railway operator SSIF has ordered additional narrow-gauge trains from Stadler, bringing the total to four as part of a framework agreement supported by €35.7 million in European funding. These new trains will operate on the Domodossola-Locarno section of the Vigezzina-Centovalli railway line, enhancing both local and cross-border services. The expansion aligns with SSIF’s broader plans for technological innovation and service improvement, while Stadler continues to lead in providing sustainable rail solutions in Italy and Europe.

(PRESS RELEASE) BUSSNANG, 26-Aug-2024— /EuropaWire/ — The Italian railway operator SSIF (Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie) has placed an additional order for narrow-gauge trains from Stadler, as part of an ongoing framework agreement established in December 2022. This expansion, supported by €35.7 million in European funding through the modified National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), brings the total number of four-car electric multiple units (EMUs) ordered to four. These trains will operate on the cross-border Domodossola-Locarno section of the Vigezzina-Centovalli railway line.

The new 64-meter-long trains, capable of seating 144 passengers, can be reconfigured into shorter compositions to meet varying operational demands. This order reinforces Stadler’s position as a market leader in narrow-gauge rolling stock in both Italy and Europe.

Daniele Corti, Managing Director of SSIF, highlighted the century-long collaboration with the Swiss railway company, Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi, which also operates on the Vigezzina-Centovalli line. The coordinated fleet renewal efforts between the two companies ensure uniformity in vehicle construction and high operational quality standards.

The flexibility and customer-focused approach of Stadler have been instrumental in meeting both regulatory requirements and production timelines set by the EU’s NRRP funding guidelines. This has allowed SSIF to proceed with the fleet expansion within the agreed timeframe.

Matteo Corti, General Manager of SSIF, expressed his gratitude for Stadler’s professionalism and emphasized the significance of this milestone in the company’s broader plan for technological innovation and service improvement. The new trains are expected to enhance the continuity and quality of service on the Vigezzina-Centovalli railway, which has been a vital link for local and cross-border transportation, as well as a key asset for regional tourism.

Stadler’s Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, expressed pride in the ongoing partnership with SSIF and reaffirmed Stadler’s commitment to delivering sustainable and high-performance rail solutions. The company is also advancing the development of battery- and hydrogen-powered rail vehicles in Italy, furthering the goal of decarbonizing rail transport in the region.

About Stadler

Stadler has been building trains for over 80 years. The provider of mobility solutions in rail vehicle construction, service and signalling has its headquarters in Bussnang in eastern Switzerland. It has a workforce of around 14,500 based in various production and engineering locations as well as more than 80 service locations. The company is conscious of its social responsibility for sustainable mobility and therefore stands for innovative, sustainable and durable quality products. The product range in the field of mainline railways and city transport includes highspeed trains, intercity trains, regional and suburban trains, metros, tramways and trams. Stadler also manufactures main-line locomotives, shunting locomotives and passenger carriages. It is the world’s leading manufacturer in the rack-and-pinion rail vehicle industry.

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Media Contact:

Gerda Königstorfer
Head of Group Communications & PR
Phone: +41 71 626 19 19
E-mail: media@stadlerrail.com
www.stadlerrail.com

SOURCE: Stadler Rail Group