Levallois Perret Cedex, France – Skånetrafiken, the public transport operator in southern Sweden’s Skåne (Scania) region, has announced that it has selected Alstom to supply it with CORADIA LIREX regional trains. The order is worth a total of about 240 million euros and will see 49 trains delivered, with an option to be determined.

The trains will be designed and assembled at Alstom site in Salzgitter, Germany, while the ONIX traction system will be manufactured in Charleroi, Belgium. Delivery of the trains is scheduled for the second half of 2009.

By purchasing the new trains, Skånetrafiken will improve and update its regional train fleet. Over the last few years, passenger numbers have increased by 10 to 15% per year, while rail services make up over half of the region’s public transport network. The new trains will also mean increased comfort for passengers, with improved accessibility thanks to lower floors with a no-step design. What’s more, CORADIA LIREX trains are up to 95% recyclable, in line with Alstom’s environmental policy.

Since they came into service in 2002, Alstom has sold 157 of CORADIA LIREX trains in Europe, including this new order. It confirms the success of these trains, which are specially designed for extreme winter weather conditions. 35 trains have been sold to Swedish operator SL, which have been in service in the Greater Stockholm Area since August 2005. 39 additional trains are scheduled to be delivered to SL by 2008.