OREANDA-NEWS. ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, received orders worth USD 40 million from Swiss train manufacturer Stadler Rail for train projects in Europe and the United States, extending the companies' long partnership. The orders were booked in the last quarter of 2014.

ABB will supply its newest traction converters with integrated onboard power supplies as well as roof-mounted traction transformers. The equipment converts electricity from overhead power lines to the voltage levels needed by train motors as well as auxiliary power systems, including lighting, heating, ventilation, passenger information systems and automatic doors.

"These orders are an affirmation of the successful partnership between Stadler Rail and ABB," said Pekka Tiitinen, president of ABB's Discrete Automation and Motion division. "It underscores the importance of long term partnerships based on industry expertise and leading innovation."

In Switzerland, the order includes four powerful new electrical mountain trains for the Jungfraubahn that transports visitors to Europe's highest rail station at 3,454 meters above sea level, beneath the famed Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau mountains. The Jungfraubahn will be driven by the same generation of ABB traction converters as eight additional trains currently being refurbished by Stadler and ABB.

ABB will also supply lightweight, tailor-made compact traction converters with integrated onboard power supplies for electric and diesel-electric Stadler trains destined for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in California, for an expansion of the rail system linking cities including San Francisco and Oakland.

Other transportation authorities that will receive equipment in this order are Spain's Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Catalunya (FGC); the train line that operates between the cities of Alphen and Gouda in the Netherlands; and the city of Aarhus, Denmark, which will receive 24 light rail vehicles.

This new business follows previous orders from rail operators around the globe to further expand their large fleets of Stadler FLIRT regional trains. These include Finland's Junakalusto Oy and Switzerland's Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).

Since the two companies began working together in 2002, Stadler Rail has ordered ABB traction equipment for more than 1,500 regional trains and more than 300 light-rail vehicles. ABB is among the world's largest independent suppliers to rolling stock manufacturers, generating annual sales of more than USD 1.5 billion in its rail business.

ABB has a long history of providing innovative and energy-efficient technologies to the rail sector, manufacturing and servicing all components and sub-systems used in urban, intercity and high-speed networks, both for rail infrastructure and for rolling stock. ABB also provides life cycle service support including maintenance and retrofit for its large, global installed base.

ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people.