The ESH2 Stadler double-decker trains (ЭШ2, Stadler electric train, type 2) is a series of double-decker electrical trains of the Stadler KISS RUS family manufactured by the Swiss company Stadler Rail AG and designed for operation on electrified lines with a 3-kV direct current of 1520-mm gauge railways. The first four trains were produced at the Stadler Altenrhein AG plant in Switzerland, the assembly of the remaining trains was made at the Stadler Minsk plant.

In total, as of the beginning of 2017, seven six-unit and eleven four-unit formations have been produced, designed for the operation in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia. Commercial operation of the trains in Azerbaijan started in summer 2015, in Georgia - in summer 2016, in Russia - in October 2017.

FLIRT trains on the OSJD railways

Nowadays, the FLIRT trains (Fast Light Intercity- and Regional Train) are in operation on many OSJD member and observer railways, including Belarus, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Finland, Czech Republic and Estonia. In total, more than 1400 trains of this type have been produced, which are operated in 17 countries.

The FLIRT160 EMU represents a single-story train for regional service with a possibility of changing its configuration in accordance with the requirements of the customer. Light-weight aluminum construction and reliable components help to reduce the costs for the operation, power consumption and maintenance. The train can be composed from two to six sections for the networks of 1435 and 1520-mm track gauge with electric traction, diesel traction or a mixture of two of them. The internal lay-out of FLIRT trains: the number of seats, capacity or interior design, can vary depending on the customer’s requirements.

New Stadler high-speed trains

In October 2014, Stadler received an order for 29 high-speed electric trains from the Swiss Railways (SBB). Starting from 2019, these electric trains will first connect Milan with Zurich, and then with Frankfurt am Main, passing the Gotthard base tunnel at a record speed. This order will help the company to reach a new level in the high-speed railway sector for the trains capable of running at a speed of 250 km/h. At the InnoTrans-2016 railway exhibition, just two years after the signing of the contract, Stadler presented a pilot version of the train with five coaches, named “Giruno”. In May 2017, the Giruno train was presented already in an 11-coach version.

The EC250 was designed with a special focus on comfort and convenience for the customers, especially for families, older people and passengers with reduced mobility. The low-floor entrance area is a novelty for highspeed trains of mass production, providing comfortable entry and exit for passengers. Landings without steps for platforms 55 and 76 cm high, hermetic body structure of the coach and improved thermal and acoustic insulation provide a new standard for longdistance railway transport. From inside, the train is provided with comfortable options, such as WLAN 4G-/3G-cell phone amplifiers for better coverage and reception in long tunnels, sockets near all seats, wide luggage racks overhead and toilets with gender separation. The 202-meter long train accommodates 405 passengers: 117 in the 1st class and 288 in the 2nd class. The cars are connected by the so- called Jacobs motor bogies. Optimally used space has been ensured by multifunctional storage areas, including those for bicycles.

As the series of the model indicates, the maximum operational speed of the train is 250 km/h. The required power is transmitted to the railway track by four motor trolleys. The maximum power on wheels is 6000 kW. On the roof of the train there are four collecting pantographs installed.

The trains are certified according to the TSI standards and have been approved for operation in Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Austria.

New tram at the EXPO-1520 exhibition in Shcherbinka (Moscow)

In 2017, the Stadler JSC and “Transport Concession Company” presented to international experts a tramcar of V85600M “Metelitsa” type for the city of St. Petersburg, where the new tram was named “Chizhik”. The first six trams were delivered before 1 November 2017. A three-section tram with a low floor level and five double doors on either side of the tram makes it easier for the passengers to board and unboard the vehicle. Rotary bogies with two-stage spring suspension provide a quiet and comfortable ride. Inside the tram there are two special areas for perambulators and wheelchairs. Modern tram cars capable of two-way traffic with a length of 33.45 meters can accommodate up to 376 passengers.