ÖBB’s Brenner cross-border regional trainsets take shape
EUROPE: Tirol’s Regional Minister for Mobility, René Zumtobel, and his Alto Adige counterpart Daniel Alfreider have visited Alstom’s Savigliano plant to inspect progress on the production of ÖBB’s new cross-border regional trains that will operate across the Brenner Pass.
The two regions have jointly ordered a fleet of 21 six-car Coradia Stream electric multiple units. The Italians are buying 15 trainsets through Strutture Trasporto Alto Adige, while ÖBB is acquiring six through its Verkehrsverbund Tirol public service contract.
The trainsets will operate in a common Euregio fleet providing cross-border regional services linking Innsbruck, Brenner, Bolzano, Merano and Malles. This will eliminate the current need for local passengers to change trains at the Austrian-Italian border. An hourly through service between Innsbruck and Bolzano is scheduled to begin in mid-2027, with some services extended to and from Merano and Malles.
Two procurements
Alto Adige (Südtirol/South Tirol) ordered its 15 trainsets in August 2022, when the provincial government approved an amendment to an existing rolling stock contract with Alstom. The original plan to procure Talent 3 trainsets had become unworkable following delays, and after Alstom’s acquisition of Bombardier Transportation, the order was changed to six-car Coradia Stream EMUs. These multi-system EMUs will be capable of operating under Italy’s 3 kV DC, Austria’s 15 kV 16.7 Hz and the 25 kV 50 Hz electrification to be installed on the Vinschgau (Val Venosta) line.
On June 5 2023 ÖBB and the Land of Tirol confirmed an order for six additional units as their contribution to the Euregio fleet. These trainsets are currently being assembled at Savigliano.
‘Transport bottleneck’
‘The Brenner Pass is a major transport bottleneck, which is why expanding cross-border rail services is particularly important for the Euregio’, Zumtobel explained. ‘Cross-border regional rail services are essential for commuters and visitors alike, providing an attractive alternative to private car travel across the Brenner Pass’.
Although train crews will still have to be changed at Brenner because of national operating regulations, passengers will remain onboard during the brief stop and will no longer need to transfer between trains. This is expected to be especially welcomed by cyclists who will also benefit from the the larger bicycle compartments on the incoming EMUs.
‘150 years ago, railways were built because there were no cars. Today, we are investing in rail because there are too many cars’, explained Alfreider. ‘Rail is the backbone of our public transport system, allowing us to move large numbers of people efficiently along the main corridors. Alongside infrastructure investment, we also need modern trains capable of operating seamlessly in both Italy and Austria.’
‘Leap of quality’
Alexander Jug, Managing Director of Verkehrsverbund Tirol, said the new fleet would represent ‘a significant leap in quality’ for cross-border passengers. ‘Tirol and Südtirol are growing even closer together by rail. Travellers will be able to cross the Brenner Pass every hour without changing trains, while benefiting from modern vehicles offering more seats and a higher level of comfort.’
The 128 m Coradia Stream trainsets have a maximum speed of 160 km/h and provide 381 seats. They are equipped with Wi-Fi, power sockets, step-free boarding and enlarged bicycle storage areas.
Before entering passenger service, the fleet must complete certification in both countries. Drivers, conductors and maintenance staff are also undergoing training, with ÖBB using the identical STA-owned trainsets already delivered in Italy to accelerate its preparations.
‘The modern Coradia Stream trains are ideally suited to the demands of the Brenner route’, commented Werner Buchberger, Head of ÖBB Fleet Management, noting that it was ‘one of the busiest corridors for commuters and leisure travellers. They offer substantially more seating and more space for bicycles. Combined with the more frequent services and new cross-border connections, they provide yet another reason to choose rail.’
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Facts Only
* Tirol's Regional Minister for Mobility René Zumtobel and Alto Adige's counterpart Daniel Alfreider visited Alstom’s Savigliano plant.
* The regions jointly ordered 21 six-car Coradia Stream electric multiple units.
* Italy is purchasing 15 trainsets through Strutture Trasporto Alto Adige.
* ÖBB is acquiring six trainsets via its Verkehrsverbund Tirol public service contract.
* The trainsets will operate in a common Euregio fleet linking Innsbruck, Brenner, Bolzano, Merano, and Malles.
* An hourly service between Innsbruck and Bolzano is scheduled for mid-2027.
* Alto Adige ordered 15 trainsets in August 2022.
* The initial plan involved Talent 3 trainsets, which were changed to six-car Coradia Stream EMUs.
* The EMUs are capable of operating under Italy’s 3 kV DC, Austria’s 15 kV 16.7 Hz, and the 25 kV 50 Hz electrification.
* ÖBB and the Land of Tirol confirmed an order for six additional units on June 5, 2023.
* The trainsets have a maximum speed of 160 km/h and provide 381 seats.
Executive Summary
Regional governments in Tirol and Alto Adige have jointly ordered a fleet of 21 six-car Coradia Stream electric multiple units from Alstom to facilitate cross-border regional rail services across the Brenner Pass. The trainsets will operate in a common Euregio fleet, connecting Innsbruck, Brenner, Bolzano, Merano, and Malles, aiming to eliminate the need for local passengers to change trains at the border. An hourly service between Innsbruck and Bolzano is scheduled to commence in mid-2027, with extensions to Merano and Malles planned.
The procurement involved two parts: Alto Adige ordered 15 trainsets in August 2022 following an amendment to an existing contract, while ÖBB confirmed an order for six additional units on June 5, 2023. The acquired multi-system EMUs are designed to operate across Italy’s 3 kV DC, Austria’s 15 kV 16.7 Hz, and the 25 kV 50 Hz electrification systems. The new fleet offers features like Wi-Fi, power sockets, step-free boarding, and enlarged bicycle storage.
Full Take
The development of this cross-border rail infrastructure centers on mitigating a recognized transport bottleneck across the Brenner Pass, positioning rail as an essential alternative to private vehicle travel for commuters and visitors. The core tension lies between national operating regulations necessitating crew changes at the border and the goal of creating seamless passenger flow. The system aims to achieve functional integration by decoupling physical train movement from operational control, allowing passengers to remain onboard during stops, which directly impacts convenience for travelers and cyclists.
A pattern emerges where infrastructure investment is framed as a necessary societal correction: moving from a car-centric model to a rail-centric one. This aligns with the broader historical trajectory described by Alfreider regarding railways being the "backbone" of public transport. The focus on increased capacity, comfort (more seats), and multimodal integration suggests an underlying movement toward prioritizing human flow over logistical friction.
The justification for this multi-jurisdictional procurement relies heavily on establishing a shared standard—the Euregio fleet—which implies a shift in governance where regional needs are prioritized over strictly national rail administration during transit. The potential implication is that successful implementation necessitates overcoming institutional hurdles related to cross-border operational mandates, ensuring that the logistical efficiency gained translates into tangible improvements in passenger experience and access for all regional actors.
What assumptions are made about the seamlessness of regulatory alignment across different national railway systems when operational protocols remain segmented? How does the emphasis on cyclist accommodations reflect a broader, unstated value system concerning sustainable mobility over vehicular movement? What long-term costs or gains associated with integrating these distinct operational frameworks across borders need further examination?
Sentinel — Human
The article is a factual report detailing a cross-border rail infrastructure agreement, supported by direct input from regional and company officials.