Stadler to deliver 16 trams to Denmark's Odense city
Denmark's Odense Letbane has contracted Stadler subsidiary Stadler Pankow to deliver 16 Variobahn-type trams, as part of an order valued at almost €45m.
The contract represents the second light rail order for Stadler in the country, and is a part of the launch of a new light rail system in the Denmark's third largest city Odense.
Stadler was previously selected to supply 23 Variobahn and Tango LRVs to the Danish city Aarhus in 2014.
Stadler Pankow CEO Ulf Braker said: “In the last few years selected cities in Denmark are beginning to build light rail systems.
“Winning the bid for the initial project in Aarhus, and now again in Odense, reinforces the success of our experienced Variobahn.”
The first LRV is expected to be delivered to Denmark in autumn 2019, while the whole fleet is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2020.
The new tramlines will connect nearly 35,000 passengers, 33,000 workplaces and 23,000 student study spaces on a daily basis.
Odense Letbane CEO Mogens Hagelskær said: “The Rolling Stock is supplied by Stadler Pankow GmbH, which is based in Berlin. Stadler has supplied the lightrail vehicles to the cities of Bergen in Norway and Aarhus here in Denmark.
“Odense Letbane has learned a lot from these projects, which is why we know, that the Rolling Stock will be of high quality and very reliable.”
Variobahn light rail trams have flexible length, carriage width and tack gauge due to their modular construction.
The bi-directional vehicles feature a low-floor design and can accommodate 193 passengers with step-free access to platforms.
The vehicles intended for operation in Odense will be air-conditioned carriages equipped with double-glazed windows, spacious gangways with five exterior doors on either sides.
Variobahns can reach a maximum speed of 70km per hour.
The Odense Lightrail network is currently under development and is scheduled for completion in 2020.
Financing for the DKK3bn ($450m) project is being provided by the municipality of Odense, the Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing, and the Region of Southern Denmark.
