In 1991 the Italian State railways (FS) decided to cancel the commercial traffic on the 61km long line from Merano to Malles in the Val Venosta in Northern Italy. The province of Bolzano decided to revitalise the line.

Commercial operation will restart under the province's responsibility at the beginning of 2004. Beside the important investment in infrastructure, new rolling stock was needed. The province called for tenders based on a very demanding specification regarding travel time, gradients, acceleration.
At the end the Gelenktriebwagen GTW 2/6 of the Stadler Rail Group Switzerland was evaluated as the winner and the contract for the delivery of eight DMUs was signed in December 2001. The DMU GTW 2/6 is a modular train concept specially developed by Stadler for the regional traffic. Up till now 360 trains have been sold in nine different countries showing a vide variety in gauges, car length, carbody width, interior and exterior design according the customer's need. Electric and dieselelectric versions are available.
The GTW 2/6 train consists of two low floor passenger cars and a central power module with a gangway for the circulation of the passenger. Due to this concept all sources of noise and vibration are completely isolated from the passenger modules and a 70 per cent low floor content can be achieved which allows an easy entry with no steps.
But this is not the only measure for the passenger comfort: A passenger information system, air condition, vacuum toilet system handicapped/disabled proof are some of the features for the passengers satisfaction.
All bogies are fully air suspended. Compared with the diesel/electric GTW's already in operation, the new trains for Merano-Malles will show some major improvements due to a complete re-engineering of the traction chain.
There will be installed two MAN diesel motors 380kW each compared to one 550kW engine. Each diesel motor is coupled with his own generator feeding a converter designed by ABB Automation.
The advantages of this concept are: complete redundancy of the traction chain, increase of the max. power at wheel rim by 50 per cent to 620kW, better acceleration (1.05 compared to 0.85m/s2) and lower emission since the dieselmotors fulfil the Euro III requirements. Based on this new concept, the attractiveness of the DMU GTW will be more improved as the positive feedback from many different railway operators shows.

Enquiry No 31

Peter Jenelten is with Stadler Rail Ltd, Bussnang, Switzerland. www.stadlerrail.com