Knorr-Bremse Gears Up Stadler’s CITYLINK Fleet for Urban-Rural Transit Revolution

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 32 years, 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 from 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 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 32 years, includes the delivery of spare parts, maintenance, and other services for the various Knorr-Bremse system technologies aboard the vehicles.

Source: Knorr-Bremse