SSIF Expands Fleet with New Stadler Trains for Cross-Border Rail Services

Italian railway operator SSIF (Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie) has placed an additional order for narrow-gauge trains from Stadler, expanding its fleet to four new four-car electric multiple units (EMUs).

This move is part of a Framework Agreement signed in December 2022 and is funded by EUR 35.7 million from the European Union's modified National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The new trains will be used for cross-border services on the Domodossola (Italy) - Locarno (Switzerland) section of the Vigezzina-Centovalli railway line. The new trains are 64 meters long and can seat 144 passengers. They are designed to be flexible, allowing them to be configured into shorter two- or three-car versions to meet different needs.

SSIF's Managing Director, Daniele Corti, highlighted the strong partnership with the Swiss company Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi, which also operates on the Vigezzina-Centovalli line. "With this company, an excellent and profitable cooperation relationship has existed for over 100 years, aimed at maintaining both uniformity of vehicle construction and the same operational quality standards," said Corti. "Moreover, thanks to Stadler's flexibility and the significant attention the train manufacturer pays to customer needs, it was possible to develop a train project that meets both the increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and the necessity to find ‘a suitable slot‘ in the production process to schedule the construction of additional rolling stock within the timeframe prescribed by EU with the NRRP funds. All this will make it possible to complete the order under the existing Framework Agreement."

The new trains will help SSIF improve service on the Vigezzina-Centovalli railway, which has been a vital link for both local and cross-border transport for over a century. General Manager Matteo Corti expressed his satisfaction with the fleet expansion, stating that the new trains will ensure continued reliable service and enhance overall quality.

Stadler's Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Ansgar Brockmeyer, added, "We are very pleased that SSIF has chosen Stadler again. We look forward to continuing our successful cooperation."

In addition to these electric trains, Stadler is also working on developing battery- and hydrogen-powered trains for other Italian regions, aiming to make rail transport more sustainable across the country.

Source: Stadler