Stadler to build dual-voltage tram-trains for Frankfurt Regionaletangente West

Stadler has been awarded the contract for the supply of the 27 49m Citilink tram-trains that will be needed for the new 52km, 28-stop, EUR 327.6M, orbital line Regionaltangente West, under construction since 2022 in the western suburbs of the German city of Frankfurt-am-Main. The dual-system vehicles (15kV ac and 750 V dc) will accommodate both the platform heights of Deutsche Bahm (960mm) and Frankfurt Stadtbahn platform heights (800mm). The first three will be delivered in autumn 2028 and the remainder in 2029-2030 in readiness for passenger service from December 2030. The contract includes maintenance and spare parts for 30 years. 

 

Regionaltangente West will run from Bad Homburg in the north (there will be a short branch to link with the Frankfurt Stadtbahn at Nordweststadt) via Eschborn, Höchst, Frankfurt Airport, and Stadion to New-Isenburg where there will be branches to Birkengewann and Dreieich-Buchschlag. Tram-trains will share tracks with the existing Frankfurt S-Bahn along the way, operating under 15kV ac catenary, while new sections of line will be built to Stadtbahn standards, electrified at 750 V dc. 

 

Iñigo Parra, CEO of Stadler’s Spanish division, said, ‘We are delighted by the trust placed in us by Frankfurt-am-Main and RMV for building and maintaining the vehicles for the Regionaltangente West. This is a special project, as it involves new developments such as barrier-free access at different platform heights. We are proud too build more dual-system vehicles. These will enable passengers to travel without changing trains, thus increasing the attractiveness of public transport’. Mike Josef, Frankfurt’s mayor and Chairman of RMV said, ‘With the award of the contract for the RTW vehicles we have taken a decisive step towards providing people in and around Frankfurt, especially the many commuters from the region, with a public transport service that will bring them directly and faster to the airport from places like Bad Homburg, eliminating the need for detours and interchange in the city centre’.