Stadler Rail contests Czech train tender amid German tram technical issues

Stadler Rail is challenging a Czech Railways (České dráhy) tender for new suburban trains, arguing that long-term reliability and life-cycle costs should be prioritized over initial price. The manufacturer’s bid was 38.66 billion CZK, compared to the winning bid of 36.387 billion CZK.

Simultaneously, Stadler is facing operational difficulties in Germany with its new TINA tram model. In Halle, the transport company HAVAG has suspended the acceptance and deployment of new vehicles following repeated complaints regarding excessive noise, vibrations, and technical defects. Similar issues with vibrations have been reported in Darmstadt and Basel. While the TINA tram platform is a different product from Stadler’s railway units, the technical complications in Germany have drawn attention to the manufacturer’s reliability claims during the Czech procurement process.