The contract was awarded on August 19, but is subject to a 20-day stand-down period. DB will carry out the work at facilities in Wittenberge and Neumünster, starting in 2020.
Josef Meyer Rail in Rheinfelden, Switzerland, has already carried out work on 15 coaches over the past few months.
SBB says the external contract is necessary as its workshops are currently working at capacity due to the 2014-2024 SFr 1.5bn fleet modernisation programme.
The modernisation work on the EW IVs includes removing corrosion, repainting the exterior, reupholstering both first and second class seats and replacing some tables and seats. The project will create a uniform interior design across the fleet and remove the existing partition walls in the coaches.
After DB has completed this work, SBB will carry out a review of the bogies and HVAC system, along with the doors.
The first EW IV coaches entered services in 1981 and the fleet is due to remain in operation with SBB until the 2030s.
