Stadler FLIRT

Stadler FLIRT (German: Flinker Leichter Innovativer Regional-Triebzug, lit. 'Fast Light Innovative Regional Train') is a passenger multiple unit trainset made by Stadler Rail of Switzerland. The baseline design of FLIRT is an electric multiple unit articulated trainset that can come in units of two to twelve cars with two to six motorized axles. The maximum speed is 200 km/h (125 mph). Standard floor height is 57 cm (22+7⁄16 in), but 78 cm (30+11⁄16 in) high floors are also available for platform heights of 76 cm (29+15⁄16 in).

The FLIRT train was originally developed for the Swiss Federal Railways and was first delivered in 2004. The trains quickly became a success and were ordered by operators in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As of October 2021, more than 2500 units have been sold.

Aside from being electric (EMU), the FLIRT is available in diesel-electric (DEMU), battery-electric, bi-mode EDMU, tri-mode diesel/overhead electric/battery (see also: Stadler WINK), and more recently hydrogen fuel cell versions. Bi-mode models were first ordered by Italy's Aosta Valley region as (BTR.813), then by Greater Anglia as the British Rail Class 755, and Norske Tog. Tri-mode versions were first ordered by Transport for Wales (KeolisAmey). Hydrogen fuel-cell versions were first ordered by Arrow in San Bernardino County, California, USA.

Specifications

The FLIRT is a new generation of multiple units, even though the first versions resemble GTW vehicles. The trains can have two to six sections and electric variants are available for all commonly used power supply systems (AC and DC) as well as standard and broad gauge. It has Jacobs bogies shared between the individual coaches, with wide walk-through gangways. The floor height at the entrances can be chosen by the operator, providing level boarding at most stations. Automatic couplers of either Schwab type (on all Swiss units) or Scharfenberg type at both ends of the train allow up to four trains to be connected.

All FLIRT variations use IGBT-based traction converters from ABB, which drive the TSA induction motors located in the two bogies at either end of the train. On the two-section trains, only one bogie is powered, while on longer versions it is possible to have a third powered bogie in the middle, found on the trains for Vy in Norway and for PKP Intercity in Poland. Each bogie usually has a continuous power rating of 1,000 kW (1,300 hp) giving a typical four-section train 2,000 kW (2,700 hp) total power output as well as maximum power output of 2,600 kW (3,500 hp) over a short time. Depending on the number of powered bogies, the length and weight, they will reach top speeds between 120 and 200 km/h (75 and 124 mph) (typically 160 km/h or 99 mph). Acceleration also varies between 0.8 and 1.2 m/s (2.6 and 3.9 ft/s).

The diesel, bi-mode electro-diesel, hybrid diesel-battery, battery, and hydrogen fuel cell versions are essentially baseline design with an additional non-passenger car inserted in the trainset – called a PowerPack car – which contains the electricity-generating and storage components, such as diesel engines and batteries, that provide electricity to the train to run off-wire. It has a gangway through the centre to allow passengers to pass between the two parts of the train.

In the TEXRail application, the diesel power module contains two 520 kilowatts (700 hp) Deutz AG TCD 16.0 V8 engines that comply with the US EPA Tier 4 emission standard.

On March 22, 2024 Stadler's FLIRT H2 hydrogen multiple unit secured a Guinness World Record for the longest distance achieved by a hydrogen fuel cell multiple unit without refueling.

Operators

Algeria

On 18 March 2006, the Algerian operator SNTF announced that it had ordered 64 four-car EMUs for suburban services in Algiers. The trains were delivered between 2008 and 2010.

Azerbaijan

In November 2019, it was announced that Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları (Azerbaijan Railways) had placed a €115 million order for ten Russian-gauge Stadler FLIRT units in various configurations, for delivery to begin in 2022.

The order specification is as follows:

• Three EMUs for suburban trains
• Three EMUs for regional trains
• Four DŞ1-class DMUs for regional trains

Train length is to range between 93 and 107 m (305 ft 1+3⁄8 in and 351 ft 5⁄8 in), with capacity varying from 236 to 271 passengers.

Because the Azerbaijan Railway is currently converting the electrification voltage of many lines on its network from 3 kV DC to 25 kV AC, the diesel fleet will be introduced first, allowing the service to be upheld during this conversion process.

In December 2023, the first DMU DŞ1-001 has been delivered to Azerbaijan Railways.

Belarus

Ten Russian-gauge units were delivered to the Belarusian Railways in 2011. Six more were delivered from 2013 to 2014.

The trains are mostly used on various suburban routes around Minsk, such as Minsk-Pasažyrski to Minsk National Airport. The Stadler FLIRT trains are also used as inter-regional transport in Belarus, on the routes Minsk–Homieĺ, and Minsk–Brest.

Two Stadler FLIRT units with an interior optimised for longer distance (EP-class) were delivered to Belarus in 2015 to 2016, and in January 2019, ten more of these trains were ordered for delivery in 2020.

Canada

The city of Ottawa put 7 Stadler FLIRTs into service on O-Train Line 2 in 2025 to increase capacity, replacing the Coradia LINTs, which have been moved to line 4.

Line 2 is a combination of frequent rapid transit and suburban regional rail, serving both as the inner city's main north-south route and also railway to the Riverside South suburb.

Czech Republic

The Czech private operator LEO Express ordered five units. Units are modified as InterCity trains. All five units have operated on the Prague–Ostrava line since December 2012. Since December 2013 one unit is operated on the Prague–Staré Město u Uherského Hradiště and since December 2014 one unit is operated on the international route Prague–Košice (Slovak Republic). The maximum speed of these units is 189 km/h (117 mph), but in service it is limited to 160 km/h (99 mph).

Denmark

On 9 October 2024, the local railway operator Lokaltog formally signed a contract for the supply of 14 two-car units of the battery–electric Akku model with an option for 10 more. They are scheduled to be delivered in 2028.

Estonia

Elron ordered 18 electric (6 four-car and 12 three-car) and 20 diesel (6 four-car, 8 three-car and 6 two-car) broad-gauged trains. By June 2014 all 38 trains were delivered. This has been the first time FLIRT DMUs were produced. First five trains went into service on 1 July 2013 and by January 2014 all old trains were replaced by the new ones. On 16 April 2014 one of the new DMUs that had been operating for just five months had an accident near Raasiku, a collision with a truck. The unit was badly damaged. It went back into service in 2015, and two damaged carriages were replaced. In November 2014, Elron initiated an investigation into suspected flaws in some diesel trains. Two different build flaws were found in many of the trains and faulty components were replaced under warranty.

Finland

81 four-section 1,524 mm (5 ft) broad-gauged FLIRT units, classified as Sm5 in the Finnish system, have been ordered by Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy (a joint venture between the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen) for service on the Helsinki commuter rail network. The Sm5 units are leased by Pääkaupunkiseudun junakalusto to the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority, but they are currently operated by the VR Group. The initial order in 2006 was for 32 trainsets. 9 further units were ordered in 2011 and 34 further units in 2014.

The first Sm5 unit arrived in Finland on 11 November 2008. Following preliminary testing the first unit was displayed to the public in Helsinki on 17 December 2008. During the remainder of on 2008 and for most of 2009 the Sm5 units were extensively tested in different parts of Finland. The first unit entered passenger service on 18 November 2009.

In November 2022, VR Group, the country's national rail operator, awarded Stadler Rail the contract to manufacture 20 new FLIRT 4 EMUs (but based on FLIRT G and without Jacobs bogies) with an additional option for 50 trainsets, classified as Sm7, for longer-distance VR commuter rail services. These trains will be partly manufactured in Switzerland with final assembly taking place in Poland and Belarus, and they are expected to enter service in spring 2026.

• 
  Class Sm5 EMU in Tuomarila.
• 
  First class Sm7 EMU being towed to Ilmala depot after its delivery to Finland.

Germany

The Cantus Verkehrsgesellschaft, a joint subsidiary of Hessische Landesbahn and Hamburger Hochbahn, became the first German FLIRT operator when they received their first train in 2006. Their fleet consists of fourteen three-car and six four-car units.

Since December 2007 Abellio Rail NRW has operated nine three-car and eight two-car FLIRT trains for regional routes between Essen, Hagen, Iserlohn and Siegen. This was the first time that a FLIRT with only two sections was ordered.

Also since December 2007 WestfalenBahn uses fourteen three-car and five five-car trains for trains services in the Teutoburg Forest region.

In 2006 DB Regio, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn ordered five five-section vehicles for regional services on the German east coast. The trains were delivered in August 2007 and, until December 2019, were used on the routes Rostock–Stralsund–Lietzow–Sassnitz (Hanse-Express), Sassnitz–Stralsund and Binz–Lietzow. Since October 2020, they run the RB17 (Wismar – Ludwigslust).

The biggest order from Germany so far came in October 2006 from the leasing company Angel Trains Europa when they ordered 25 four-car FLIRT trains. All 25 units have been leased to Eurobahn who uses them on the Hellweg Network in North Rhine-Westphalia. Only a year later, in November 2007, Angel Trains ordered four more four-car and fourteen five-car trains that will also be used by Eurobahn. In 2017, Eurobahn also took over the WestfalenBahn operation of the Teutoburger-Wald-Network, taking over 18 FLIRT 1 units, as well as ordering eight new FLIRT 3 units.

On the InnoTrans 2008, a trade fair focused on rail transport, Vias announced their order for twelve four-section and seven three-section units. Starting in December 2010, the trains were put on the Frankfurt–Koblenz route. The same year, the Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) started to operate three three- and five six-car FLIRT units on the Frankfurt – Gießen – Siegen line.

Starting in December 2013, the Bayerische Oberlandbahn, called Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB) since 2020, uses three three-car and 28 six-car FLIRTs for their Meridian services, which run between Munich-Salzburg and Kufstein. Since August 2014, the ownership of the trains was transferred to AlphaTrains, only to be leased back for the Meridian.

From December 2014 on, the RE 1 (Koblenz – Trier (– Luxembourg /) – Saarbrücken – Ludwigshafen – Mannheim), RE 2 (Koblenz – Frankfurt), RE 4 (Frankfurt (Main) – Mainz – Ludwigshafen – Karlsruhe), RE 14 (Frankfurt (Main) – Mainz – Ludwigshafen – Mannheim), are operated with FLIRT 3 units, with the RE 1 being coupled with a CFL-operated KISS between Trier and Koblenz.

Go-Ahead Germany ordered 45 units in 2016 for delivery in 2019.

Transdev ordered 64 three-car units in November 2018, planned to enter service in 2021 on Hanover S-Bahn lines. In June 2019, Transdev subsidiary NordWestBahn awarded Stadler a €100m order to supply 16 FLIRT electric multiple-units for the Bremen/Niedersachsen S-Bahn services. The trains will enter service starting December 2022.

In July 2019, Schleswig-Holstein rail authority NAH.SH awarded Stadler a €600m order for 55 battery-powered FLIRT Akku multiple unit trains along with maintenance for 30 years. The trains, which offer 150 km (93 mi) of battery range, were originally scheduled to enter operations in 2022 to replace DMUs on non-electrified routes. Regular operations began in October 2023.

• 
  FLIRT of WestfalenBahn
• 
  FLIRT of SBB GmbH at Konstanz station
• 
  FLIRT of DB Regio
• 
  DB Regio FLIRT 3 on Wanne-Eickel–Hamburg railway
• 
  FLIRT 3 of Abellio NRW
• 
  FLIRT 3 of Go-Ahead Germany
• 
  FLIRT 3 XL of Transdev
• 
  FLIRT Akku

Hungary

• Hungarian State Railways operates 123 units. Technical details: single voltage 25 kV, maximum speed 160 km/h, four-section trains with 200+11 (folding) seats, up to three trains can be connected together. The first 60 units got red, black, and white livery. During the first modernization the paint scheme was unified with other electric trains of MÁV. Now all 123 units have blue, black, and white livery with yellow doors.
• Győr–Sopron–Ebenfurth railway in 2012 ordered four units, delivery until Q2 2014. First two units arrived on 6 December 2014 and started their public service on 15 December of the same year.
• Hungarian State Railways in 2013 ordered further 42 units, delivery until Q3 2015. The first two units arrived on 27 February 2014 and the first one presented to the public at Kápolnásnyék on 19 March. New units have arrived in new livery of blue and white colour scheme with yellow doors instead of the previous red and white one.
• Győr–Sopron–Ebenfurth railway in 2013 ordered further six units, delivery until Q3 2015
• Hungarian State Railways in July 2015 ordered further 21 units, delivery until Q4 2016. The first unit arrived on 11 September 2015 These four-section units have the same blue and white colour scheme with yellow doors which is the same as the 2013 orders livery.
• Győr–Sopron–Ebenfurth railway in September 2016 ordered further ten units the first order of the new FLIRT 3 version, delivery until Q1 2019

MÁV operates 123 units, while GYSEV operates twenty units from this series (2019).

It is planned that the first sixty units will be equipped with ETCS L2 signaling, control and train protection system, while all newer units are already equipped with ETCS L2. The units will also receive the blue and white colour scheme.

• 
  MÁV-Start series 415 FLIRT (old red livery)
• 
  GySEV series 415 FLIRT

Italy

In Italy FLIRT units are used by six regional railways, with total units ordered and built divided among the following companies:

Ferrovie del Gargano: ETR 330, single voltage to 3 kV DC, maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph). Fleet: three units.

Ferrotramviaria: ETR 340, single-voltage 3 kV DC, maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph). Fleet: four units.

SAD used on Pustertal Railway, ETR 155 and ETR 170. Dual-voltage 15 kV AC and 3 kV DC. Fleet: four ETR 155 and six ETR 170. In July 2011 have been ordered eight new units for routes within the jurisdiction of SAD. As of 2020 there are eight FLIRT dual-voltage units, 001–008 (005–008 ex ETR 155), and 24 ETR 170.1 and 170.2 dual- and tri-voltage units (3 kV DC, 15 kV AC, 25 kV 50 Hz)

Sistemi Territoriali: ETR 340 single-voltage 3 kV DC, maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph). Fleet: two units from 2008, four and sixteen FLIRT units ordered in 2009. The FLIRTs ordered in 2009 will be built in conjunction with AnsaldoBreda: Stadler Rail will produce end units, traction systems and onboard auxiliary, and bogies, while AnsaldoBreda will produce intermediate cars, final assembly, and delivery to the operators at the plant in Pistoia.

Tilo (Switzerland and Italy): RABe 524/ETR 150 dual-voltage 15 kV AC, 3 kV DC. Maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph). The first 19 units of this type to be delivered were four sections long, followed by eleven units which are six sections long and equipped with ETCS Level 2.

Ferrovie Emilia Romagna: Twelve units constructed with AnsaldoBreda: Stadler Rail will produce end units, traction systems and onboard auxiliary, end engines, while AnsaldoBreda will produce intermediate cars and handle final assembly and delivery to the operators at the plant in Pistoia.

Valle d'Aosta region (licensed to Trenitalia): BTR 813, electric multiple units with maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) and diesel multiple units with maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph)

• 
  ST ETR 340 unit
• 
  SAD ETR 170 unit at Bruneck railway station
• 
  BTR 813 unit

Lithuania

On 21 June 2023, Lithuanian passenger rail operator LTG Link announced that it has ordered nine 5-car Stadler FLIRT EMUs and six 3-car FLIRT battery-electric multiple units, along with an option for a further 13 electric and 26 battery-electric units. The trainsets are expected to began testing in 2025 with a projected entry to service in 2026.

Netherlands

On 23 April 2015 the Netherlands' railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen announced that it was ordering 58 Stadler FLIRT EMUs, comprising 25 four-car units and 33 three-car units, to be delivered by the end of 2016. The very short delivery deadline (20 months), to meet capacity needs, allowed NS to invoke 'urgency mode' provisions in EU procurement rules and place the order without tendering. The 58 FLIRT EMUs for NS were produced at Stadler's plant in Siedlce, Poland, 92 km east of Warsaw, following the order which that plant completed for PKP Intercity in Poland. Meanwhile, Arriva Nederland also ordered two- and three-car units for operation in the province of Limburg.

As of 2023, FLIRT 2, 3 and 4 EMUs are in service in the Netherlands with the following operators:

• Arriva
• Connexxion
• Nederlandse Spoorwegen (some of them with R-net branding)
• Keolis (Blauwnet and RRReis branding)

• 
  Nederlandse Spoorwegen FLIRT
• 
  NS R-Net FLIRT
• 
  Keolis FLIRT
• 
  Ex-Connexion FLIRT, now Keolis RRReis

Norway

50 Flirt units were ordered by Vy (formerly Norwegian State Railways (NSB)), with a further 100 on option. 26 units were placed on Oslo Commuter Rail and the remaining 24 units were used on regional and express routes. During spring and summer 2012 all Flirt trains used by Vy were fitted with free wireless Internet access for passengers. In Vy's system, the FLIRT trains are classified as Class 74 for regional trainsets and Class 75 for local trainsets.

All trains will be five-car sets; unlike previous five-car FLIRTs each will have a third powered bogie giving it a maximum power output of 4,500 kW (6,000 hp) and a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). Trial runs started on the Bergen Line in 2009, using an SBB-CFF-FFS unit. The first units were scheduled to enter passenger service on 29 February 2012. The FLIRT's introduction was delayed after a unit derailed during tests by NSB on 15 February 2012, injuring five people. The train was running much too fast, and there were no safety systems along the railway to catch the driver's error.

The first train entered regular service on 2 May 2012 on the line from Skien to Lillehammer. The last of the 50 trains was delivered on 24 January 2014. Vy had ordered a further 57 trains, for a total of 107, as of October 2015. In 2017 an order for additional 18 was placed, for a total of 125, forty of which are short regional trains, and the rest local commuter trains. In July 2018, 36 short regional and 64 local commuter trains had been delivered.

Local Class 75 trains are configured with five seats (2+3) abreast. The Class 74 regional trains were also delivered with 2+3 seating on regional trains except in the premium "Komfort" section that had 2+2 seating. Significant passenger complaints over cramped seating led Vy to reconfigure the regional trains into 2+2 seating in 2014.

These fleets have 800 mm (31+1⁄2 in) floor without steps. Many Norwegian platforms are too low for this floor height, so they will have to be raised to 550 mm (21+5⁄8 in) platform height. These fleets cannot operate on low-platform lines such as the Bergen Line, the Sørlandet Line west of Kongsberg, and the Dovre Line north of Lillehammer. Raised platforms will be matched with conventional train steps; vertical gaps between this fleet and platforms will remain.

In 2018 the last options were used, which includes 25 trainsets, most of which include the Class 75 and 74 that are set to operate on Gjøvikbanen and Vossebanen.

The two last are bi-mode trains named Class 76. These are similar to the FLIRT 3s owned by Greater Anglia in the UK but each will have an extra carriage for diesel generators in order to operate on tracks without electrification and as fully electric on electrified parts of the railway.

In total 14 trainsets of the bi-modal Class 76 will be delivered to serve Trønder Commuter Rail as well as the Meråker and Røros Lines. These will replace the aging Class 92's built by Duewag which are fully diesel. All this is included in Bane Nor (Norway's Rail Management Agency) and Jernbaneverkets's plan to finally modernize the Trøndelag Railways, which have outdated buildings and infrastructure. These lines were partially electrified, between Støren and Trondheim, by 2021, with further electrification to be implemented.

In November 2022 the final 150th train set was delivered.

In February 2023 Norway ordered 17 FLIRT NEX long-distance trains, with the option of up to 100 train sets, to enter testing in 2025 and service on the Bergen Line in 2026, replacing end-of-life trainsets on the line. These will be classified as 'Class 79' and have 8 wagons including reclining seats, flexible sleeping compartments that can be used as private seating areas during daytime use, bistro, and a family area.

• 
  The Stadler Flirt for NSB (now Vy) at InnoTrans 2010
• 
  Stadler Flirt with new Vy livery
• 
  Bi-modal Stadler Flirt for SJ Norge

Poland

Koleje Mazowieckie in 2008 bought 10 four-car 3 kV DC (class ER75) units for services in the Warsaw region. Koleje Śląskie (KŚ) bought four four-car 3 kV DC units (class EN75) for service in Silesia. Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna (ŁKA) in 2012 ordered 20 two-car FLIRT3 units for service in the region around Łódź, for delivery by February 2015. PKP Intercity in August 2013 ordered 20 eight-car 3 kV DC FLIRT3 units (class ED160) with interiors for long-distance travel and top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), for service on four long-distance routes in Poland, from a consortium of Stadler Polska and Newag for delivery by October 2015. In 2018 Koleje Mazowieckie started another order of total 61 five-car 3 kV DC FLIRT3 units (class ER160) in five batches slated for deliveries from 2020 to 2022. In 2019 PKP Intercity ordered further twelve eight-car 3 kV DC FLIRT3 units for deliveries through 2023.

• 
  FLIRT for Koleje Mazowieckie
• 
  FLIRT3 for Koleje Mazowieckie
• 
  FLIRT 3 for Polish PKP Intercity
• 
  FLIRT 3 for Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna
• 
  Flirt for Koleje Śląskie

Portugal

In October 2020, Comboios de Portugal have ordered a delivery of 22 FLIRT units in 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) for the renewal of its regional fleet, these are the first FLIRT trains in the Iberian Peninsula. The order of 22 trains comprises 10 electric units (EMUs) and 12 bimodal units (BMUs). They will consist of three aluminium car-bodies with a maximum capacity for 375 passengers, 214 of them seated, with one additional generator car in bimodal units. These trains can reach a maximum speed of 160 and 140 kilometres per hour, depending on the power source used. The trains will have a length of 63.2 metres (207 ft 4+1⁄4 in) (EMU) and 74.4 metres (244 ft 1+1⁄8 in) (BMU). Delivery is delayed, and expected for October 2025.

Serbia

Serbian Railways operates 21 FLIRT 3 four-car EMUs with top speed of 160 km/h for regional traffic which were delivered in 2014 and 2015. In 2022 further 18 units were ordered with deliveries expected to start from October 2023. Trains are numbered ŽS 413/417.

Slovenia

Slovenian Railways ordered eleven 235-passenger FLIRT EMUs (SŽ 510/515) and five 171-passenger DMUs (SŽ 610/615) in April 2018, for delivery by early 2020 and exercised an option for a further 10 EMUs and 16 DMUs in May 2019 for delivery by late 2021, bringing the total order up to 21 four-car EMUs and 21 three-car DMUs. Together with 10 Stadler KISS units there are 52 Stadler trainsets in Slovenia as of October 2022.

• 
  SŽ 610/615
• 
  SŽ 510/515

Spain

Renfe's Cercanías division ordered 24 100 m (328 ft 1 in) trains and 55 200 m (656 ft 2 in) combined FLIRT/KISS EMUs classified as Renfe Class 453 [es] in 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) for Cercanías Madrid and Rodalies de Catalunya in 2021, which are expected to enter service in 2025, replacing older rolling stock dating from the 1970s to the early 1990s. The 100 m variants will consist of two single-deck FLIRT end cars connected to two bilevel KISS intermediate cars, while the 200 m variants will feature two additional single-deck FLIRT intermediate cars.

Sweden

VR Snabbtåg Sverige (then MTRX) ordered six Flirt EMUs for inter-city operation between Stockholm and Gothenburg. They are very similar to the Norwegian units, maximum 200 km/h, but have more comfortable seats aimed for longer distances, and a small café area. The first unit was delivered in November 2014. They started customer operation in March 2015.

Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Railways were Stadler's first customer for the FLIRT when they ordered 42 units with options for 100 more in September 2002. The first vehicle was delivered in 2004 for the use on the Stadtbahn Zug.

Meanwhile, the Swiss Federal Railways have ordered a total of 117 units that can be broken down into four different types that differ in their equipment for driving in neighboring countries. The base version is the class RABe 523 that is used on the Stadtbahn Zug and the RER Vaud. These 43 4-section units can only be used within Switzerland. The 30 RABe 521 and 14 RABe 522 are versions that can also be used in Germany and France respectively. They also consist of four sections and are used on the Basel S-Bahn. The last version is the Italy-capable RABe 524/ETR 150 that is used on Treni Regionali Ticino Lombardia (TILO) services in Ticino and northern Italy. The first 19 units of this type to be delivered were four sections long, and were followed by eleven units ordered that six-sections long and are additionally equipped with the ETCS Level 2 train control system.

In December 2018, SBB ordered seven trains, with an option of seven more. They will be manufactured 2019–2021. Each train has four single-deck cars, with a total of 27 seats in first class and 154 in second class. The SBB name is 'Mouette' (lit. 'Seagull').

Besides the Swiss Federal Railways two other companies in Switzerland operate FLIRT trains: The Südostbahn (SOB) uses several trains with the designation RABe 526 (FLIRT and FLIRT-III, including the Traverso used as Voralpen Express, Treno Gottardo, Aare-Linth and Alpenrhein-Express). The Transports Publics Neuchâtelois (TransN) owns three RABe 527 and four RABe 523 trains.

BLS ordered 58 six-car EMU sets in May 2017 for service on RegioExpress and Bern S-Bahn routes, with delivery scheduled to take place between 2021 and 2026.

United Kingdom

In August 2016 Greater Anglia selected Stadler FLIRT electric and bi-mode units for the East Anglia franchise to replace its Class 90 electric locomotives, Mark 3 carriages and Driving Van Trailers, Class 153, 156 and 170 diesel multiple units, and Class 379 electric multiple units. This comprised 14 three-car and 24 four-car bi-mode multiple units (Class 755) and 20 twelve-car electric multiple units (Class 745) (of which ten will be used for Stansted Express and ten for Intercity services).

Wales

In June 2018, KeolisAmey Wales announced it would purchase 35 FLIRT trains: 24 (seven three-car and 17 four-car) tri-mode Class 756 units and eleven four-car diesel-electric Class 231 units for the South Wales Metro.

United States

On 9 June 2015 Trinity Metro signed a contract for the supply of eight four-car articulated FLIRT3 diesel-electric multiple units for the TEXRail commuter line, which opened in January 2019. The contract was signed at a ceremony held at Fort Worth Central Station. The contract is valued at $107 million, and includes the supply of components for 10 years. The contract also includes an option for an additional 24 DMUs. This is Stadler's first order for its FLIRT family in the US (previous orders have been for the GTW), and the first to include federal funding and thus be subject to the Buy America Act. As such, one element of the contract is that the final assembly of the trains will take place in the US, and several assembly sites such as in Lewisville were considered for the facility. Stadler eventually leased space from the Utah Transit Authority in their former Union Pacific shops in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Public unveiling events for the completed American-built FLIRT units occurred in both Atlanta, Georgia on 9 October 2017 and Salt Lake City, on the Salt Lake, Garfield and Western Railway, on 13 October 2017 as Stadler broke ground for their permanent Salt Lake facility.

Three two-car FLIRT sets were built for the Arrow commuter rail service in Redlands, California, which started operation in 2022. The $31.4 million contract includes the vehicles themselves, spare parts, and training for servicing and operation. In November 2019, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority ordered an additional FLIRT powered via hydrogen fuel cell, the first such train in the United States. In September 2022, an order of four additional hydrogen-powered trains was announced by Stadler and CalSTA for Amtrak California inter-city services.

Eight four-car sets are to enter service with Dallas Area Rapid Transit on the Silver Line when it opens in 2026.

In February 2024, Metra ordered 16 of the battery–electric Akku model, expected to be delivered in late 2027, for use on the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island Line or North Central Service.

• 
  Trinity Metro TEXRail FLIRT3 arriving at DFW Airport/Terminal B station, 2019
• 
  Metrolink Arrow at Redlands–University station, 2022
• 
  A Stadler FLIRT DMU, painted in DART Silver Line colors at rest on the Salt Lake, Garfield & Western Railway

Cancelled contracts

Latvia

On 1 July 2014 Latvian rail operator Pasažieru vilciens announced that it would acquire FLIRT trains as part of a hire/purchase contract, however Pv owner Latvian Railways ultimately withdrew the contract and no procurement went ahead.

Accidents and incidents

• On 15 February 2012, a FLIRT unit used for tests and driver education, without passengers, derailed near Holmestrand in Norway, injuring five people. The train had been entering a bend at 135 km/h (84 mph) instead of the allowed maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph). The train driver was convicted of negligence but given a conditional discharge by the court who also faulted the lack of safety systems that could catch the driver's error.
• On 16 April 2014, a FLIRT operated by Elron heading from Tallinn to Tartu was involved in an accident in Raasiku. A dump truck hit the third wagon at a level crossing, causing multiple wagons to derail. One female passenger aged 43 was killed, 12 people received injuries. The dump truck driver, a man aged 59, received fatal injuries. The damaged units were repaired and resumed service.
• On 5 November 2014, a FLIRT operated by SNTF derailed in Hussein-Dey, on the eastern suburb of Algiers in Algeria, it was heading to Thenia, 50 kilometers from the capital, the train was supposed to be commuted to a passing loop at 150m from Hussein-Dey train station to allow the fast Algiers-Oran to overtake, because the latter is not programmed to stop at that station, the train derailed on the switch at a higher speed than limited, the accident killed a 55-year-old woman and injured 70, according to the local authorities.
• On 16 May 2015, a FLIRT operated by WestfalenBahn was involved in a collision on a level crossing at Ibbenbüren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Two people were killed and twenty were injured. The train was scrapped.
• On 9 February 2016, two FLIRTs operated by the Bayerische Oberlandbahn were involved in a head-on collision near Bad Aibling, Germany. 11 people were killed, 80 were injured.
• On 12 July 2016, a FLIRT was involved in a head-on collision at Andria, Apulia, Italy that killed 23 people.
• On 5 June 2017, a FLIRT operated by Leo Express ignored a stop signal and crashed into a buffer stop at Přerov, Czech republic. 18 people were injured including staff.
• On 24 November 2019, a Class 755 train operated by Greater Anglia was approaching a level crossing at Thorpe End, Norfolk, England at 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) when the barriers lifted as the train was 220 yards (200 m) from the crossing and cars started crossing in front of the train. Despite emergency braking, the train was unable to stop before the crossing. A collision was avoided by half a second. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch's report on the incident was released on 14 December 2020. In response to the incident, Greater Anglia imposed a 20-mile-per-hour (32 km/h) speed restriction over five level crossings on the Bittern Line.

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