GERMANY: Düsseldorf’s Rheinbahn and Duisburg transport operator DVG have jointly awarded Siemens Mobility a contract worth almost €400m covering the supply of a total of 109 Avenio HF high-floor light rail vehicles for their interlinked networks, with an option for a further 48.
The contract includes maintenance and servicing of the 18 Duisburg vehicles for 24 years, with an option for a further eight years, and a 24-year spare parts supply contract for the 91 LRVs ordered by Düsseldorf.
The order was formally announced on October 13 after both operators has separately approved the deal and no objections were raised during the standstill period.
Delivery of the first vehicles is planned for 2025. The 28 m long 2 650 mm wide LRVs will have 51 seats and standing space for 178 passengers, with folding steps to accommodate different platform heights.
They will be fitted with the Siemens Tram Assistant digital collision warning system which will use radar and video sensors to warn of potential accidents.
‘This order has a very special meaning for us, since it marks our return to the market for high-floor light rail vehicles’, said Siemens Mobility CEO Michael Peter. The LRVs ‘will offer more than two million people in Düsseldorf and Duisburg the highest level of passenger comfort. Our services will also guarantee our customers optimal availability and a sustainable increase in value over the vehicles’ entire lifecycle.’
