GERMANY: Infrastructure manager DB Netz has awarded Stadler a contract to retrofit up to 80 maintenance vehicles with its Guardia ETCS Baseline 3.6.0 onboard equipment.
There is a firm order for installation on an initial eight 711.1 and 741.X vehicles for use in Germany and Switzerland from 2024, with an option for up to 72 more vehicles.
A pilot project saw Guardia installed on two Class 185.2 locomotives and the Class 605 DB Advanced Train Lab trainset that was exhibited at the InnoTrans 2022, but this will be the first large scale deployment by DB’s maintenance sector.
Marc Trippel, Head of Stadler’s Signalling Division, said the order announced on January 13 reflects the trust in Guardia that was built during the pilot project, and would make ‘an important contribution to digitalising the German rail network’.
DB Netz said installation would increase reliability and safety, with Baseline 3.6.0 offering additional functions over older variants which would save times and allow the vehicles to be used more efficiently.
Guardia ETCS is approved in Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and the Netherlands, with the latest Baseline 3.6.0 approved for Germany and the Netherlands.
