AUSTRIAN Federal Railways confirmed on April 17 that it had exercised an option to buy a fleet of Talent electric multiple-units from Bombardier Transportation and Elin EBG Traction, at a total value of 166m euros. The deal is the first to be agreed under a ’framework contract’ negotiated last year (RG 10.00 p627).
The initial build covers a fleet of 40 four-car EMUs to replace ageing Class 4020 EMUs on the Wien S-Bahn network, plus a further 11 three-car sets for regional services. The units will be built at Bombardier’s plants in Germany, with Elin supplying the electrical equipment. Delivery is scheduled to start in mid-2003.
The articulated four-car sets will be 67m long, with seats for around 200 people. The regional units will carry 150 in a 52m length. Both versions will have low-floor entrances 590mm above rail to allow easy boarding and alighting from low platforms. n
