SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) announced on February 18 that it plans to refurbish 175 of its EuroCity coaches by 2028. The programme will cover 113 first class and 62 second class vehicles, including coaches with bicycle storage, all vehicles with toilets for passengers with reduced mobility, and 12 panoramic coaches.

With a lack of capacity at its own workshops, SBB plans to outsource the refurbishment of 136 coaches to an external contractor. The tender will include an option for an additional 57 vehicles. The remaining 39 coaches will be refurbished at SBB workshops at Olten and Yverdon-les-Bains.

The work will include corrosion repairs, external repainting in the current SBB livery, and the installation of new windows, which will reduce energy consumption and improve the mobile phone signal on board. Carpets and upholstery will be replaced where necessary.

A prototype vehicle will be completed in the second half of 2022, with the refurbishment of the remaining 174 coaches due to take place between 2023 and 2028. SBB expects the coaches to remain in service on inter-regional, inter-city and international routes until at least 2037.

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