When we’ve talked about Flix on this blog, its mostly been about the coach network. In other conturies, Flix also operates trains as well as coaches.
And it seems the group is ordering trainsets from Talgo.
FlixTrain Taglo 230 trainset – Image, Taglo.
Flix has awarded Talgo a €2.4 billion contract for the supply of up to 65 European high-speed trains based upon the Talgo 230 product platform. The initial firm order will be for 30 units worth nearly €1,060 million.
The push-pull trains will boast full accessibility at the platform level. The contract also includes the maintenance of all units during a 15-year period.
Under the signed contract, the Talgo 230 push-pull trains will be supplied without locomotives (to be constructed and supplied by a third party). Each unit will be composed of an end-coach with a driving cabin, a variable number of intermediate high-capacity passenger seating coaches, including one for PRMs (passengers of reduced mobility), and an end-coach to be used as the interface with the locomotive.
The trains are designed to be operated across Europe, initially prepared for Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden, with full interoperability allowing seamless cross-border operations.
FlixTrain is responding to the growing demand for fast and affordable rail travel, with the company intending to use the new high-speed trains in Germany and Europe.
In Quotes
Talgo president Crlos Palacio said:
“Talgo is keen to entering into a partnership with a transport giant like Flix. Talgo 230 is the best solution to improve passenger mobility across Europe in the intercity rail passenger market and we are delighted that our company is contributing with this new product iteration to the common goal of shifting traffic from the road and air modes and to a fair and rapid energy transition”.
Flix CEO and co-founder André Schwämmlein added:
“We are pursuing a long-term strategy with FlixTrain and we will significantly expand our services in the coming years. With the tremendous expansion of our train fleet we will start a new era of train travel in Germany and Europe. We do not only plan to increase our market share, but also to increase the market itself significantly”.
A big low-cost push
A new future for FlixTrain – Image, Flix.
FlixTrain (the train subsidiary) currently operates primarily within Germany. In the past, it operated services within Sweden and has applied for cross-border services.
With Flix choosing to go with the equivalent of DB’s ICE L, it’s clear they’re going after both the intercity markets, as well as upgrading its own rolling stock (with DB using the ICE L trainsets to remove the last of their old Intercity stock.
The trainsets will need traction, with FlixTrain turning to Siemens to order Vectron locomotives to power these new trains.
It’s a big push for FlixTrain, which currently operates six route sets (over four route numbers) within Germany. We’ll have to see if it meets the company’s dreams of further expansion in Europe.
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