Knorr-Bremse and Stadler conclude long-term service contract for trains in Europe
Knorr-Bremse and Stadler have signed a long-term contract through to the end of 2028, with option to extend, covering a large number of trains and railcars in multiple European countries.
As part of the service agreement with Stadler, Knorr-Bremse RailServices will overhaul and repair braking systems and supply the necessary spare parts.
- Knorr-Bremse is responsible for providing comprehensive maintenance, repair and for supplying spare parts for the trains’ braking systems
- Train fleets run more efficiently, more reliably and longer on solutions supplied by Knorr-Bremse RailServices
Knorr-Bremse and Stadler have concluded a comprehensive service agreement that will initially run until the end of 2028. Knorr-Bremse RailServices will support the train manufacturer with customized solutions to maintain train availability throughout Europe at the very highest level. The contracted services include overhauls, repairs and the supply of spare parts for numerous braking system components. The order is another boost for Knorr-Bremse’s profitable, long-term core business based on braking systems and services.
Mario Beinert, Member of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems, said: “For rail manufacturers and operators, the availability of trains on tracks is clearly vital. By offering a range of innovative services in support of our advanced technologies, we provide optimized solutions that have impressed Stadler. What’s more, our service offerings are once again showing how vital they are to building customers’ loyalty and trust in our solutions, and ultimately attract new business.”
Frank Uder, Vice President RailServices, added that: “This major service contract represents a new phase in our long-term relationship with Stadler. We’re delighted to be able to contribute to even higher levels of train availability, safety and efficiency by providing service solutions that cover the entire life cycle of large train fleets operating across multiple European markets. Because we’re based close to our customers, we’re able to satisfy Stadler’s service requirements fast and reliably with manufacturing-standard quality, and also deliver rock-solid planning and scheduling.”
Over 20,000 brake caliper overhauls anticipated
The service contract will run to the end of 2028 and includes an option to extend. First, it guarantees Stadler the necessary maintenance and repair services for braking systems installed in long-distance, regional and local trains throughout, for example, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary. Among other services, more than 20,000 brake caliper overhauls are scheduled over the term of the contract, which will help to ensure that trains continue to operate smoothly and efficiently. Overhauls represent an environmentally sustainable approach to extending products’ service lives and reducing resource consumption.
The second key element in the contract is the supply of spare parts to the customer for various braking system components installed in train bogies, including friction materials. All services will be provided by local RailServices experts based close to the customer in, among other countries, Switzerland, Germany and Hungary.
Developing the long-term business relationship
In recent years, Knorr-Bremse and Stadler have continued to expand their new and service- related business. Joint projects include a long-term contract for equipping the metro network operated by Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), currently at the delivery phase, and the recently awarded contract for the VDV TramTrain project, involving the outfitting of 246 CITYLINK light rail vehicles in Germany and Austria. The partners also intend to strengthen their cooperation under the new European service agreement, with the aim of adding even more value for operators.
RailServices: four strategic business activities
Knorr-Bremse RailServices as a whole aims to deliver a maximally customer-focused service portfolio, divided into four core areas of business: Availability Solutions (putting more trains on tracks by taking care of maintenance and supplying spare parts and components); Environmental Improvements (by, for example, retrofitting technologies that help to save energy, reduce noise, and avoid wear and tear), Lifetime Expansion (for instance by supplying packaged solutions for modernizing and upgrading installed technologies), and Process Optimization – providing customers with the assistance, support and training they need to build up their own expertise and develop their own processes for servicing and maintaining Knorr-Bremse technologies.
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