Stadler and Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) jointly presented at InnoTrans, in Berlin, the new sleeping car produced for use on the Baku-Tbilisi-Istanbul international line. To enable cross-border operation, Stadler has developed a bogie with gauge-adjustable wheelsets. The contract allowed Stadler to successfully enter the railway market in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan Railways awarded the contract to Stadler for the delivery of 30 sleeping cars in 2014. Stadler executed the development and production of the first car within two years in close co-operation with ADY, making it possible to present the vehicle for the broader public at InnoTrans for the first time.
The sleeping cars built for ADY are able to operate both in the CIS states (broad gauge 1520 mm) and on European standard gauge (1435 mm) due to the special gauge-changing bogies. Close to the Turkish border in the Georgian town of Akhalkalaki, a break -of-gauge is planned for switching bogies to enable efficient operation on the international Baku –Tbilisi– Kars– Istanbul line. The bogies are equipped with a RAFIL/DBAG type V system of adjustable wheelsets. These are compatible with other variable gauge systems along the borders of the CIS states, facilitating the use of the same equipment. The cars are conform with the European loading UIC gauge profile. The contract is not only about the delivery of the cars between the middle of 2016 and the middle of 2017, but also includes an extensive spare-part package and the training of staff that will operate and maintain the vehicles. In addition, the contract also includes an option for 70 more units.
Azerbaijan Railways will create three 10-car trainsets from the 30 coaches. The order includes the delivery of 27 sleeping-and 3 dining cars. The sleeping vehicles will consist of 3 first class cars (16 beds, each compartment has its own sanitary unit with toilet and shower) 18 second class cars (34 beds, one toilet and
one shower cabin) 3 first/second class cars (20 beds, sanitary units in the first class and family compartments), and 3 special cars (with a spacious compartment for disabled passengers, 4 second class compartments with 16 beds, and a train-master compartment). The 3 dining cars have 28 seats each. As a result, a 10-car trainset will typically include 257 beds. Each car is equipped with a closed-system vacuum-toilet and emergency power system with generator, which makes 24-hours operation possible. All cars are fully climatized with a redundant air-conditioning system.
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