Reliable Rail Mobility: Knorr-Bremse equips 246 Stadler Light Rail Vehicles

Knorr-Bremse is to equip at least 246 of Stadler’s CITYLINK streetcars with various system solutions. Under the terms of a major joint order, which  includes options for up to 258 more vehicles, the LRVs will be supplied to six local  transit companies in Austria and Germany. Their equipment will include innovative  braking systems (including magnetic track brakes) and climate control systems. In  addition, Knorr-Bremse RailServices will supply comprehensive services for these systems over a 32-year period, contributing to the rail vehicles’ long-term technical  and operational performance. 

“For the mobility transition to succeed, it’s important to make rail transportation even more  attractive and available,” explains Dr. Nicolas Lange, Member of the Executive Board of  Knorr-Bremse AG with global responsibility for the Rail division. “We’re delighted to be able  to contribute to the safety, reliability, comfort and convenience of rail travel by applying our  systems expertise to the equipment required for our customer Stadler’s long-term project.”

Dr. Peter Radina, Member of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems,  adds that: “Stadler’s CITYLINK streetcars, which seamlessly interconnect urban and rural  areas, represent a pioneering vehicle design. Among other things, we’re supplying highly  innovative braking systems that are precisely tailored to the customer’s requirements.”

Knorr-Bremse will equip the 246 streetcars with system solutions according to a delivery  schedule running since the end of 2023 through to 2031. For Stadler, the framework  agreement includes an option for up to 258 additional vehicles. The major “VDV TramTrain” order is a joint project by six local transit companies, with Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe (VBK  – Karlsruhe’s municipal transit authority) acting as the project manager.

Braking system based on sophisticated, customized solutions 

The three-car rail vehicles feature designs that vary slightly by operator and intended operating location. Knorr-Bremse’s market-leading expertise in systems and components  played a key role in planning the customer-specific solutions. The LRVs will be equipped with  fully hydraulic braking systems in which the interactions of key components have been further  optimized – between, for example, the magnetic track brakes, their new hydraulic mountings, and new hydraulic units. Together with other enhancements, this further increases the  braking systems’ variability in different operating conditions and on routes with differing requirements. Knorr-Bremse is essentially supplying a sophisticated and highly reliable  solution for a major long-term mobility project.

Another feature that will characterize all the vehicles: Climate control systems from Knorr Bremse brand Merak will supply clean air at pleasant temperatures to both passenger  compartments and driver’s cab. These highly energy-efficient climate control systems, which  include a heat-pump function, use CO2 as a natural refrigerant. Stadler is also turning to  Knorr-Bremse RailServices for suitable life-cycle management solutions. The service  contract, which covers a 32-year period, includes the delivery of spare parts, maintenance  and other services for the various Knorr-Bremse system technologies aboard the vehicles.

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