Arriva Nederland and Stadler have signed a contract for the delivery of five four-car FLIRT trains, which will be used on regional lines in the Dutch provinces of Overijssel and Drenthe. The vehicles are intended to support growing passenger demand on the Vechtdallijnen network, including services between Zwolle–Emmen and Almelo–Hardenberg.
The new trains will add to Arriva’s existing Stadler fleet in the Netherlands, which currently comprises 165 vehicles. The operator has been running rail services on the affected routes since 2012, during which time ridership has increased following timetable adjustments and fleet modernisation.
In parallel with the rolling stock expansion, infrastructure works are planned on the Almelo–Mariënberg line, which is scheduled for electrification. This will allow Arriva to replace diesel-operated services with electric traction, changing the operational profile of the route.
Stadler and Arriva have a long-standing cooperation in the Dutch market. Since 2006, Stadler has delivered multiple vehicle types for Arriva, including GTW, WINK and FLIRT units, supplied for regional operations in several parts of the country.
The five new FLIRT trains will be deployed within Arriva’s regional operations and will form part of the operator’s broader fleet strategy as electrification and capacity adjustments progress on the eastern Dutch network.
