Regional Fleet Expansion for Dutch Vechtdallijnen

Arriva Nederland has placed an order for five new electric multiple units to operate on the Vechtdallijnen routes in the eastern Netherlands. The contract, awarded to Stadler, covers the delivery of FLIRT trains intended to increase capacity and support the transition toward fully electric regional rail operations.

Matching rolling stock to growing regional demand
Arriva has operated regional rail services between Zwolle and Emmen, and between Almelo and Hardenberg, since 2012. Over this period, passenger volumes increased following timetable adjustments and the gradual introduction of newer rolling stock. The newly ordered trains are intended to absorb further demand, particularly on the Zwolle–Emmen corridor, where capacity constraints have emerged during peak periods.

The five units will be deployed on the Vechtdallijnen network in the provinces of Overijssel and Drenthe, reinforcing Arriva’s regional service offering rather than expanding the network footprint.




Technical profile of the new FLIRT units
The order comprises five four-car FLIRT electric multiple units. Each trainset provides 248 fixed seats, including 12 first-class seats, and a total passenger capacity of 457. Interior layouts include multifunctional areas that can be reconfigured to balance bicycle storage and seating depending on seasonal demand, a common requirement on regional Dutch routes.

The trains are specified with PRM-compliant toilets, dedicated spaces for wheelchairs and bicycles, power sockets, and real-time passenger information systems. These features align with current accessibility and passenger information standards applied across regional rail services in the Netherlands.




Electrification enabling operational change
The delivery of the new FLIRT units coincides with the planned electrification of the Almelo–Mariënberg line. Once electrification is completed, existing diesel services on the route can be replaced with electric operation. This transition reduces local emissions and simplifies fleet management by aligning the route with Arriva’s growing electric train portfolio.

With this order, Arriva’s Stadler-built fleet in the Netherlands will expand beyond the 165 vehicles already in service, which include GTW, WINK, and FLIRT platforms delivered over the past two decades.




Operational integration and network identity
The new trains will be delivered in the RRReis livery used for regional public transport services in the area, with updated interior color schemes and seating materials. From an operational perspective, the fleet expansion supports a gradual standardization around electric multiple units, reducing reliance on diesel traction while maintaining compatibility with existing maintenance and operational processes.

The order reflects an incremental but technically coherent step in aligning rolling stock capacity, electrification, and accessibility requirements across Arriva’s regional rail operations in the Netherlands.

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