The authorisation covers passenger operation of single Giruno trains running at up to 200km/h on the Swiss network.
Stadler launched the authorisation process for the fleet in April 2017 and the trains have since made several hundred test runs in Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria. One of the trains was tested at 275km/h in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in April 2018 as part of the process for securing authorisation for passenger operation at 250km/h.
SBB placed a SFr 980m ($US 980m) order with Stadler in October 2014 for 29 multi-system trains, which were dubbed Giruno after the Romansh word for buzzard. The contract includes an option for up to 92 additional trains.
The fleet will be deployed on services from Basle and Zürich to Milan via the Gotthard Base Tunnel and the first trains are now expected to enter service in the early summer.
Each 202m-long 11-car train will accommodate up to 405 passengers including 288 in second class and 117 in first. With an entry floor height of 940mm, the Giruno provides step-free access from 55 and 76cm-high platforms.
