State-owned operator Danske Statsbaner (DSB) has published tender documents for the procurement of between 40-56 new railcars.
The contract is worth 1.2 billion Danish krones (∼€161 million).
DSB will be responsible for the maintenance of the new carriages, which are scheduled to enter service from 2022.
CEO Flemming Jensen said (Translated from Danish): “It is another important step in the renewal of DSB’s fleet. With the offer we add trains to the range of initiatives for the benefit of our customers.
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“It is our expectation that by the end of 2019 we can sign the contract with the winner of the offer in order to get the wagons delivered in 2022. However, if you can get the wagon before, we will of course work for it.”
DSB is also understood to be taking up its option with Siemens for an additional 16 electric locomotives from the Vectron platform.
According to the Danish transport ministry, the purpose of the acquisition is to provide operational insurance against insufficient performance in DSB’s current diesel fleet, especially the IC4s.
In the longer term, the acquisition allows DSB to enter into cooperation with Deutsche Bahn to drive international traffic to Germany when the fixed link via the Fehmarnbelt opens as expected in 2028.
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