InnoTrans 2024 report (19)

One of Stadler 's exhibits was the KISS for ÖBB, which made its public debut in Berlin. The presentation ceremony of a four-car unit 4734 104 was attended by Andreas Matthä, ÖBB CEO, and Peter Spuhler, Stadler's Chairman of the Board of Management. These EMUs are designed for suburban and regional transport, to which Mr. Matthä commented in his speech: "Vienna's suburban transport is like clockwork. That's why ÖBB chose a Swiss watch." However, unexpected difficulties in the form of widespread flooding in several places got in the way of this plan, as described here...

In April 2022, ÖBB signed a framework agreement for up to 186 KISSes for 15 kV 16.7 Hz and 25 kV 50 Hz with a maximum speed of 160 km/h. From this, 20 six-car and 21 four-car units were ordered at that time, which were given the Class designations 4734 and 4736.

After that, 21 more four-car units were ordered in July 2023 (deliveries scheduled until 2027) and finally 47 more four-car sets in August 2024 (deliveries until 2030). Both versions have the same power output of 5,200 kW, and the dual-voltage traction equipment will also allow these KISSes to operate in Hungary, similar to the Talent and Desiro ML EMUs.

The total value of the 109 KISSes, named "cityjet Doppelstock neu" by ÖBB, is around 1.5 billion EUR. Deliveries will start with the Class 4736s, with a seating capacity of 591 and space for up to 60 bikes. The first of these are due to enter service in December 2025, to be followed by deliveries of the Class 4734s, with 371 seats and space for up to 36 bicycles; both classes have two wheelchair places, each in one of the intermediate cars.

Negotiations over the current delivery schedule are still ongoing, with the manufacturer aiming to meet the original deadlines as much as possible. At the presentation of the KISS in Austria on 6 November 2024, Mr. Matthä announced that a total of 41 units would be available in 2026. There are currently more than twenty units in the production, six of which are in test, of which 4734 101 and 4736 101 have also appeared at the VUZ Velim test centre.

The KISSs are destined for the eastern region, i. e. the federal states of Wien, Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) and Burgenland and will replace the existing double-deck rakes hauled by locomotive, which often no longer have sufficient capacity. The main area of operation will be the north-south axis through Wien, which includes the Nordbahn with trains to Bernhardsthal and Břeclav, the Südbahn with trains to Wiener Neustadt and Payerbach-Reichenau and the Nordwestbahn with REX connections to Retz and Znojmo.

In addition to the 109 KISS regional and suburban trains described above, 14 six-car units with a maximum speed of 200 km/h for the railjet category, to be designated 4706, and three five-car units for CAT airport services were ordered under the same framework contract. In total, 126 units have been ordered so far out of a possible 186.