In cooperation with Arriva, Stadler has retrofitted eight FLIRT trains with the ETCS-GUARDIA system.The first FLIRT trains are now running in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
This integration allows seamless travel between Liège, Aachen and Maastricht without the need to change trains. While the ETCS system is mandatory for the Belgian lines, the Dutch and German lines continue to use their respective Class B systems, PZB and ATB, which are integrated into the ETCS framework
Arriva Limburg's Regional Director, Michiel Cusell highlighted the enhanced travel experience for passengers. "The introduction of ETCS on our three- country train fulfils a long-held wish. Our passengers can now travel from Liège to Aachen via Maastricht.”
"The core strategic goals for intelligent mobility in the European Union are to improve international connectivity, support automation and provide access to zero-emission vehicles. By upgrading the Stadler FLIRT to our ETCS system, we have supported precisely these three core objectives,” said Daniel Baer, Executive Vice President of Stadler's Service Division.
The ETCS GUARDIA system, which was developed together with AngelStar, has been approved in several European countries and is in widespread use in Switzerland, Poland, Italy and several other countries. This development underlines Stadler's commitment to innovation, cost-efficiency, and safety in rail transport.
