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Alstom, CAF, Stadler and Talgo compete for Norske Tog’s long-distance train order

13 January 2022
Reading time ~ 3 min
A long-distance passenger train on the Norwegian railway network
A long-distance passenger train on the Norwegian railway network. Source: Youtube
Belov Sergey, Editor-in-Chief, ROLLINGSTOCK Agency
Reading time ~ 3 min
Litvintsova Olga, Editor of International Projects, ROLLINGSTOCK Agency

Norway: The state-owned leasing company that provides rolling stock to the country’s passenger carriers plans to purchase up to 100 trains.

The rolling stock is planned to replace the worn-out fleet of passenger locomotives and carriages on the Norwegian railway network. In 2022, 17 trains should be ordered: this delivery is estimated at 6.5 bln NOK ($740 mln USD) and cannot exceed 8 bln NOK ($920 mln USD). Norske Tog expects rolling stock production to start in 2024, with trains already available for service in 2026. The contract with one of the bidders will involve that production options of up to 100 trains in total can be implemented after the first deliveries, the company indicates.

Norske Tog lays down a number of requirements for the trains design and configuration. In particular, the task was set to reduce the cost of solutions for sleeping places while maintaining the level of comfort for passengers. The company is also waiting for proposals from manufacturers in terms of hybrid traction and the use of batteries.

Norske Tog renders of the perspective new long-distance trains interior. Source: Norske Tog

Recently, one of the bidders, Alstom, has already received a major contract from Norske Tog for the supply of Coradia Nordic regional trains. The firm order involves the delivery of 30 trains for €380 mln, and the total supply under the terms of the framework agreement could reach 200 trains and €1.8 bln. Deliveries should begin in 2025.

In turn, Stadler Rail is currently implementing a contract with Norske Tog for 14 hybrid (diesel + grid) 5-car Flirt trains, which are being transferred to the SJ Norge operation. They were ordered in 2018 as an option to the 2008 framework agreement.

At the same time, the rolling stock of another player – CAF – faced serious technical issues this year in Norway. In 2015, CAF received an order from the Flytoget for the supply of 8 four-car Oaris EMUs for 1.4 bln NOK ($160 mln USD), in June 2021 they began operating between Oslo and the city’s airport, but were dismissed at the end of the month due to cracks found in the chassis, writes IRJ. The problem remained the end of September and there is no information about its decision in the public domain at the time of this publication.