The 400m-long single-deck conventional trains will offer around 70% more seating than the ETR 470 Pendolino tilting emus currently used on this route, which are due to be phased out by the end of 2014. Interested parties tendering have six months to submit a bid, which may included an option for maintenance by the manufacturer. The contract is expected to be worth around SFr 800m ($US 870m) and the trains will enter service from 2017.
SBB is not seeking tilt capability for the new trains because it believes this would offer only minimal reductions in journey time.