Stadler will supply four additional rack-and-pinion trains to Mount Rigi Railways, expanding the operator’s modern fleet to both of its mountain lines. The new vehicles will operate on the Goldau–Rigi Kulm route, complementing six similar trains already in service on the Vitznau–Rigi Kulm line since 2022.
The tailor-made trains are designed for steep gradients and challenging alpine conditions. Manufacturing will take place at Stadler’s headquarters in Bussnang, Switzerland. With this order, Stadler further strengthens its position in the Tailor Made segment for specialised railway applications.
Each two-car trainset is 34.8 metres long, offers 150 seats and can carry up to 253 passengers. Interior features are adapted to mountain operation, including slightly inclined seating to compensate for gradients and large panoramic windows, including upward-facing front windows.
The vehicles provide barrier-free access, enabling use by passengers with reduced mobility, families with pushchairs and travellers carrying sports equipment. Dedicated ski and sled racks, including water drainage systems, support year-round operation in alpine conditions.
From a technical perspective, the trains are equipped with four powered cogwheel axles, ensuring stable traction and pulling power on steep slopes and in adverse weather. A key upgrade concerns energy efficiency: braking energy generated during downhill runs will be fed back into the railway’s power system, allowing trains climbing the mountain to reuse the recovered electricity instead of dissipating it as heat.
According to Mount Rigi Railways, the additional vehicles will support higher operational efficiency, improved reliability and more sustainable operation on the Goldau line, aligning fleet standards across the entire mountain railway network.
