Italy, Switzerland: The trains started operation on the 41 km Brig–Domodossola line. The Swiss operator BLS has given them the name of MIKA.
The six-car low-floor EMUs are 105 m long, have 275 seats, and can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Compared to the previous FLIRT modifications, the cars have larger entrance areas, a refreshment zone, better mobile phone reception, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Inside the Stadler FLIRT/MIKA EMU. Source: BLS
Stadler was awarded a tender to supply 58 such trains for $745.4 mln in 2017. The contract to deliver 52 units in 2021–2025 was signed in January 2018, with an additional six ordered in 2020. The first MIKA train was launched in May 2021, and the last one is due to be launched in 2026.
