The Montreux Oberland Bernois Railway Company (MOB) and Stadler signed a contract for the manufacture and delivery of a total of six new high-performance metre-gauge locomotives for passenger and rail services.
“The arrival of these modern, innovative locomotives will secure the long-term future of the Goldenpass Express, one of the most beautiful trains in the world. This opens up new horizons for us to satisfy an increasingly numerous and demanding clientèle,” the CEO of the Montreux Oberland Bernois Railway Company, Georges Oberson, said.
Four four-axle electric locomotives will be used for passenger services operated by the Goldenpass Express premium train on the MOB metre-gauge line connecting Montreux, Gstaad and Zweisimmen. The metre-gauge locomotives for passenger services, with an output of 3 MW, can pull and push the train, which increases the possible uses and flexibility in operation. The locomotives are equipped with the latest technology and the necessary tractive force for the demanding Meterpur route of the Goldenpass Express. They allow a maximum speed of 100 km/h.
The two other identical hybrid locomotives are intended for rail services and infrastructure maintenance. Like the Goldenpass Express locomotives, the modern, powerful locomotives are also 17 metres long and have four powered axles. The locomotives are designed for rail services and are equipped with a hybrid drive to haul service or construction trains without overhead contact lines.
Both locomotive models are new developments that have been customised precisely to the requirements of MOB and other rail operators. The driver’s cab of the locomotives are modern and equipped with ergonomic arrangement of control elements and information.
“We are proud to have been awarded this contract by MOB. Our metre-gauge locomotives specially developed for MOB will continue to successfully pull the Goldenpass Express premium train built by Stadler, whilst allowing old rail service locomotives to be replaced. We are convinced that the new innovative, tailore-made vehicles will meet MOB’s requirements. We would like to thank MOB for their trust,” the Deputy Head of Sales & Marketing at Stadler, Christian König said.
Thanks to this order, the MOB’s old vehicles will be replaced by modern ones in the typical design of the Stadler locomotive family. The metre-gauge locomotives were purchased as part of a joint tender with Transports de la Région Morges-Bière-Cossonay (MBC).
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