ORION

Our new multi-unit rail coaches will replace the veteran locomotives, and the passenger coaches that they have pulled, for our regional transport. The first new trains were delivered in autumn 2022 and are now being thoroughly tested.

From the end of 2023, all twelve multiple-unit trains should be in regular service. In a second stage, the acquisition of further 25 ORION is planned by 2028. The investment volume is over 400 million Swiss francs.

The stages of the ORION project

November 2023: Contract signing, 2nd stage

On November 2, 2023, the contract for the procurement of an additional 25 ORION trains was signed by Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer, Deputy CEO of Stadler, Christian König, Head of Sales at Stadler, Fernando Lehner, CEO of MGBahn, and Ivan Pfammatter, Head of Rolling Stock & Traction at MGBahn. This marks the second stage of the Fleet Strategy 2030.

June 2023: Roll-In

The official roll-in of the ORION took place on 15 June 2023. Te first six trains have been taken into commercial operation.

September 2022: The arrival of the first ORION

On 12. September 2022 the first ORION (Optimaler Regionalzug Im Oeffentlichen Nahverkehr / Optimum Regional Train In Local Public Transport) arrived at the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway. The first train was delivered from the Stadler Rail factory in Bussnang to the freight-handling area ‘Bockbart’ in Visp. The train was unloaded there and on 13. September it continued its journey on Matterhorn Gotthard Railway tracks as far as the yard in Glisergrund.

June 2022: hand-over of the keys

On 24. June, Dennis Laubbacher, COO and member of the Stadler Rail company officially handed over the ‘key’ for the first of all the 27 ORION multi-unit trains to Fernando Lehner, the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway’s CEO. The final transfer was planned for the beginning of autumn before the first vehicle arrived at the Glisergrund yard. Following that, it was deployed on the network but with extensive test-runs, field tests and schooling for our personnel.

March 2020: Contract signing, 1nd stage

When the contracts were signed in March 2020 it was the beginning of the first stage of the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway’s ‘fleet strategy 2030’. The Matterhorn Gotthard Railway (MGBahn) and Stadler Rail signed a contract for the delivery of twelve, 3-section, cogwheel-multi-unit rail coaches with an order volume of CHF 148.5 million.

The order was the first of two stages for the complete modernisation of the MGBahn’s rolling stock. In total, 37 of these trains have been ordered at a cost of over 400 million Swiss francs.

Facts and figures about the ORION

• Type designation: ABeh 8/12

• Numbering: 301 - 312

• Seating capacity per train: 24 1st class / 122 2nd class / Total 146

• Maximum speed adhesion 120 km/h

• Maximum speed rack uphill 35 km/h

• Total weight tare: 114t

• Gross total weight: 139t

• Length over coupling: 56,6 meters

Energy efficient and future oriented

In addition to the use of lightweight materials throughout, the ORIONs are typified by the latest energy-efficient drive components, energy optimization in slumbering mode, and low energy consumption due to oil-free dry-type transformers.

Customer-friendly and flexible

Our brand-new trains named "ORION" (Optimaler Regionalzug Im Oeffentlichen Nahverkehr - Optimal Regional Train in Local Public Transport) are characterized by their exceptional customer-friendliness and their wide-ranging flexibility. Wheelchair users, families with baby carriages and senior citizens all benefit equally from the continuous low-floor access with level entry and exit to the platforms. In addition, each car has a multifunctional compartment for stowing luggage and sports equipment. The new trains are also equipped with WLAN access.

In operation, the trains offer flexible deployment options. They can be used on the entire MGBahn network between Zermatt and Disentis and can also overcome the maximum gradient of 181‰ between Göschenen and Andermatt. The new multiple units can also operate in double or triple traction. They can thus accommodate up to 990 passengers and have up to 444 seats, 66 of which are in first class.