The manufacturing of new passenger EMUs in Swiss factory “Stadler” for Serbian Railways is much faster that it was envisaged by the planned dynamic. There are ongoing final testing of first two train sets, of which, one could arrive in Serbia by the next month, and it could be included into traffic as early as in December.
This procurement is related to the EBRD loan which was used by Serbian Railways for acquisition of 21 new EMUs in the total value of 99 million Euros.The Swiss train manufacturer will present the new train set, which will operate next year on Serbian railway lines, on the largest International Transportation Fair „InnoTrans 2014“ from September 23 – 26 in Berlin.
Final testing of the first two trains is currently ongoing in the Ellen testing-station and the „Serbian Railways“ representatives are also present there as a control-acceptance unit. The third set is in its final installation stage, while interior works, electrical and pneumatic installations are being performed on the fourth and fifth set.
At this moment, there is ongoing definition of the scope of testing which must be conducted partly in Serbia, on the first delivered train, and the other part should be conducted abroad on the second manufactured train. In addition, in June the basic training was completed for management and handling of new trains in Switzerland. Four engineers for rolling stock maintenance and two drivers completed the education, and it is also planned for the education to continue in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Swiss manufacturer has started with the delivery of technical documents, and simultaneously with the delivery of the first train, equipment, spare parts and supplies will come as well. The second train in Serbia should arrive in the first half of December, and the third by the end of this year. After that, up until August next year, it is planned that two trains per month will arrive in Serbia.The preparation for the operation and maintenance of new Swiss trains is planned to be held in the Depot for maintenance of EMUs in Zemun.
The new Serbian trains will replace the old sets for passenger transport on electrified regional lines in Serbia. The train capacity is 465 passengers with 12 first class seats, 224 fixed and 11 extra seats, as well as 230 standing places. The speed of this four-set trains is up to 160 km/h.
The contract for the purchase of 21 new EMU, worth 99 million Euros was signed on March 4, 2013, after a failure to realize loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the purchase of this set.
