CAF has been chosen to supply Stadtwerke Bonn Verkehrs (SWBV) and Elektrische Bahnen der Stadt Bonn und des Rhein-Sieg-Kreises (SSB) 22 light rail vehicles (LRV), along with all relevant spare parts.

The contract includes an option for a further 10 units.

The CAF Sales Managers Andreas Doll and Pasquale Driesman, CAF Division Manager Koen De Clercq, SWB Managing Director Anja Wenmakers, Lord Mayor Katja Dörner, District Treasurer Svenja Udelhoven, SWB Managing Director Hansjörg Spielhoff, SSB Managing Director Björn Bourauel and SSB Managing Director André Seppelt

© Martin Magunia/SWB

The LRVs are 28 metre-long high-floor bi-directional units similar in design and dimensions to the Stadtbahnwagen B units that have been in service for many years across the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The new LRVs will boost the capacity of SWBV and SSB’s fleet, which services the city of Bonn in addition to running on part of the intercity lines connecting the nearby city of Cologne.

This order will support the operators’ plans to increase the frequency of services, as well as meet demands caused by a rise in passengers.

CAF will deliver the LRV vehicles by the end of 2024 at the earliest

© SWB Group

This contract follows on from an order for 51 LRVs by Ruhrbahn last June. These will be used on the operator’s network between Essen and Mülheim.

Delivery of both orders is expected between 2024 and 2026, with SWBV and SSB’s new LRVs entering passenger service before the end of 2026.

Mayor Katja Dörner, chairwoman of the supervisory board of SWB Bus und Bahn, said:“On the way to the CO2 neutrality by 2035, transport has an important position. Public transport is only attractive when we offer a seamless service. With more vehicles, we can increase the cycle and ensure even more reliability.

“The framework agreement offers us the flexibility to procure vehicles for more than 22 railways. In this way, we can actively shape the traffic turnaround.”