Dutch operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) has signed a framework agreement with Stadler for the delivery of 36 new FLIRT commuter trains, scheduled to enter service in 2030. The order includes 18 four-car and 18 six-car units, supporting NS's strategy to expand capacity amid rising passenger numbers.
NS says the new fleet will help the operator respond to continued growth in ridership and maintain reliable services across its busy network. The agreement also reinforces the long-standing cooperation between NS and Stadler.
"Reliable and modern trains are important to us," said NS CEO Wouter Koolmees. He noted that the trains’ flexibility allows them to operate across a wide variety of regional and intercity routes, providing NS with the operational agility it needs for the coming years.
Stadler emphasized the modularity of the new design. "NS was looking for a modern vehicle for local transport that could also be used as an intercity train," said Ansgar Brockmeyer, Head of Marketing & Sales and Deputy Group CEO of Stadler.
Production in Poland with engineering support from Prague
Engineering for the new fleet is being carried out at Stadler’s site in Prague, while manufacturing will take place at Stadler Siedlce in Poland, one of the company’s key production hubs for European rolling stock.
The first trains from this order are expected to enter commercial service in 2030, contributing to NS's long-term fleet modernisation plans.
