Alstom wins €4 billion contract for its Adessia Stream trains

Alstom has been awarded a contract to supply 90 Adessia Stream commuter trains to local rail passenger transport authorities go.Rheinland and Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) for operation in the S-Bahn Cologne network. The contract also includes a long-term full-service agreement, meaning Alstom will assume full responsibility for the trains’ maintenance over a period of 34 years. It is the largest order for Alstom in Germany to date with an overall value of over €4 billion. Signing of the contract and booking of the order is expected in second quarter of financial year 2024/25.

There are two versions of the train that will be delivered, depending on the part of the network where they will be operated. The shorter version has 9 cars and a length of nearly 150 metres while the longer version comprises of 11 cars and is almost 170 metres long. The train has been developed to meet the demands of both short-haul and long-distance passengers, leading to a mix of innovative flexible modules that provides the best possible combination of standing room and seats. The short and long versions of the train provide a total capacity of more than 1,150 and 1,340 passengers, respectively. Both versions have a maximum speed of 140 km/h.

In addition to the Wi-Fi routers and power sockets that passengers now expect, the Adessia Stream trains come with a wide range of features that contribute to a pleasant travel experience for all passengers. Powerful air conditioning with environmentally friendly refrigerants for temperatures from -25 to 45°C guarantee a comfortable ride at all weather conditions, while specially treated windows ensure improved reception for personal mobile communication devices. Multi-purpose areas in each car of the train provide ample space for prams and bicycles. Gap-bridging devices at the first and last two entrance areas of the train ensure level access. Each end-car has a dedicated wheelchair area and is equipped with a toilet that is also suitable for passengers with reduced mobility. This is the first time in Germany that an S-Bahn train is equipped with toilets. The trains are equipped with a digital hearing system via Bluetooth for hearing impaired passengers.

The main responsibility for the development of the trains lies with the Alstom site in Hennigsdorf, Germany. Production of the vehicles will take place at the Alstom site in Bautzen, Germany.

Maintenance of the new trains will be carried out in modern depots in the Cologne area. In addition to preventive and corrective maintenance measures, Alstom will also carry out predictive maintenance to increase vehicle availability while reducing maintenance costs and deliver significant savings over the entire lifecycle of the trains. Services processes will be continuously optimised throughout the three-decade long agreement. The basis for this is the concept of the trains themselves, designed for maintainability and optimisation over their entire service life. Thanks to these factors, Alstom has been able to present the most competitive offer in the market.

Adessia is Alstom's next generation of commuter trains. The wide range of high-floor multiple units and coaches is available as single- (Adessia Stream) or double-deck (Adessia Max) configurations, suitable for all climatic conditions between 120-200 km/h on electrified as well as non-electrified networks.