Fourteen of DSB's problematic AnsaldoBreda IC4 diesel trains are to be upgraded and modified in DSB's own workshops rather than in Italy under a deal confirmed this morning, the value of which is undisclosed.
Danish Rail News understands it is the largest contract awarded to the DSB's maintenance arm DSB Togvedligeholdelse to date.
The surprise move will allow the trains - which were delivered in 2007-09 - to undergo more testing and regulatory examinations than if they have to return to AnsaldoBreda's Italian factory for interim modifications. It should, DSB hopes, allow the trains to enter full revenue earning service sooner. Amongst other problems, these 14 trains are unable to work in multiple and have proved unable to match present day reliability requirements. DSB expects to hire additional engineers and fitters for the project.
CEO Soren Eriksen says: "We are very pleased with this order and are pleased, of course, first and foremost that the deal means more IC4 trains for the Danes. For DSB it means that we gain a more thorough knowledge of the trains in advance of final deliveries. By not sending the trains to Italy for modification we achieve greater flexibility as we have more trains available to operate and test and this provides further impetus to development of the new train computer and attempts to link three or more trains together."
DSB Togvedligeholdelse was recently awarded a contract to refurbish 16 trains for the Norwegian Airport Express Train., the second such deal the organisation has won from Norway.
IC4: stylish but delayed. Image: Danish Rail News
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