Alstom receives maintenance contract for regional trains in Sweden
Alstom has secured a new contract, worth approximately SEK 1 billion (USD 96 million), with VR Sweden for maintain 30 regional trains in Sweden.
VR Sweden is part of Finland’s VR Group.
From December 10, 2023, the French train manufacturer will be responsible for offering ten years of fleet maintenance, with a one-year option.
Trains in Bergslagen’s fleet maintenance will be done at Alstom‘s Gävle and Västerås workshops.
Alstom said it will develop the business through a “higher degree of digitized maintenance”.
The French vehicle manufacturer has so far delivered 1,000 trains to Swedish railways and has a workforce of nearly 2,000 in the country.
It offers maintenance at 19 local depots, including the Motala depot.
In addition, the company facilitates the expansion of the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS) in Sweden both on board and on the ground.
Alstom Sweden CEO Maria Signal Martebo said: “We already have a strong partnership with VR and look forward to continuing to deliver first-class service and maintenance for these trains.”
The latest development comes after VR Sweden was chosen as the new operator of Bergslagen’s network, which is currently managed by the Swedish national train operator SJ.
Regional transport manager Tåg i Bergslagen (Tib) decided to terminate SJ’s agreement to operate online services in December 2023 instead of December 2026.
The contract’s termination three years before the set date was driven by the negative effects of the pandemic.
Trains in Bergslagen connect the counties of Dalarna, Örebro, Västmanland and Gävleborg in Sweden.
In April 2022, Alstom received a €650 million order from the Swedish railway operator SJ to supply 25 Zefiro Express electric high-speed trains in Sweden.