Alstom Transport Denmark, Bombardier Transportation Denmark, Siemens Mobility and Stadler Bussnang now have until the beginning of 2019 to prepare their first negotiation offer. Once the offers have been submitted, DSB will enter into dialogue with the individual manufacturers about their solution and the tender’s requirements. At the beginning of 2020, the manufacturers will make their final offer for delivery and maintenance of the long-distance and regional fleets.
DSB expects to be able to award the contract by mid-2020. The first train is expected to enter service in 2024, but the final deployment date and delivery rate will only be known when a contract is signed.
DSB launched the tender for up to 150 trains following an agreement between all major parties in the Danish parliament in February. The 25kV ac 50Hz trains will replace DSB’s ageing IC3 DMUs and IR4 EMUs, as well as the ill-fated fleet of AnsaldoBreda IC4 DMUs.
DSB ordered 82 four-car IC4 and 23 IC2 two-car sets from the Italian manufacturer in 2000 and the first trains were due to enter service in 2003, but the trains were beset by technical problems and introduction was heavily delayed.
Following the IC4 debacle the government is keen to seek a service-proven design, and the agreement calls for “market-based standard solutions that have been commissioned elsewhere in Europe.” At the time, the total cost of the order including the maintenance contract was expected to be between DKr 17 and DKr 22bn.
“I am very pleased to have four competent train manufacturers included in the offer,” says DSB director of strategy and trains, Mr Jürgen Müller. “It provides a good competitive situation and optimal opportunities for a good offering. All four prequalified producers are strong players in the market and have shown through references that they have delivered well-functioning product platforms to other train operators, which corresponds to DSB's wishes.”
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