41 New KISS-type double-decker multiple units have been ordered by Österreichische Bundesbahnen as part of their framework agreement.
The framework agreement was signed in 2022 and has now been cleared by the higher administrative court in Vienna bringing an end to the legal process as Österreichische Bundesbahnen (Austrian Federal Railways – ÖBB) moves forward with the renewal of its regional transport fleet.
ÖBB has placed the order for 41 new KISS-type double-decker multiple units from Stadler which are set to be used within the eastern region bringing improvements in passenger capacity and comfort into the future.
The framework agreement with Stadler will see the order of up to 186 trains, with a total value of approximately €3b. This current request see ÖBB order 20 six-car and 21 four-car vehicles with a combined order value of €600m with the first of the vehicles expected to enter operation during the early part of 2026.
ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä said: “With these 41 new Cityjet double-decker trains, we continue to modernise our local transport fleet in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. From 2026 on, we offer even more capacity and comfort to our passengers, making the switch from individual transport by car to rail transport more attractive to commuters. This is good for our climate and both comfortable and practical for our ÖBB-travellers,”
Peter Spuhler, Administrative Board President and Group CEO a.i. at Stadler said: “We are proud to deliver the next generation of double-decker multiple units to Austria. In many countries, our KISS is already successfully on the move. Thanks to its high level of innovation, the KISS is a key solution for the environmentally friendly rail transport of tomorrow. We thank ÖBB for this order and look forward to a long-term, successful collaboration,”
The new double-decker electric multiple units feature a top speed of 160 km/h and provide 610 seats in the six-car or 380 seats in the four-car version. The units include improved acceleration which will create shorter journey times making them a perfect fit for busy routes.
The train's new design pays special attention to the needs of passengers for both work and leisure travel with each carriage featuring low-floor entrances as well as an optimised multi-purpose area with extra space and accessibility for passengers with bikes, pushchairs and luggage. The generous multi-purpose area connects to the entrance and exit areas and will support passengers allowing for quick changes.
The new KISS will provide passengers with a contemporary interior design, comfortable seats, climate control, power sockets for each row of seats, a modern passenger information system that monitors real-time information and video surveillance. For passengers with mobility needs, the middle carriage has a number of wheelchair spaces with new height-adjustable side-wall tables.
