Swiss manufacturer Stadler has signed a contract with Swedish operator A-Train AB to supply and maintain seven FLIRT trains for 15 years, with an option for an eighth, to renew the Arlanda Express fleet.
The new trains will start operating between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm Central Station by the end of 2029 and will be manufactured at Stadler’s plant in the Rhine Valley, Switzerland. The contract is valued at CHF 350 million.
FLIRTs feature Nordic-inspired interior design, bright spaces, comfortable seating, lounge areas for groups, and quiet areas for individual travellers.
Each train, 165 metres long, will have 323 seats, increasing capacity by more than 50%.
These vehicles will be adapted to the Nordic climate, accessible to people with reduced mobility, and have ample luggage space.
They will replace the current X3, which has been in service since 1999, from Alstom’s Coradia family. Like their predecessors, the Arlanda Express FLIRTs will have a maximum speed of 200 km/h.
With this change, A-Train seeks to improve the experience and efficiency of the transfer between the airport and the city. They will have a capacity of 323 seats, 50% more than the current ones.