[NO] Norske Tog issues call for new intercity trains

[jamesontheroad]

Norske Tog have published a call for tenders for new intercity trains, including locomotives (electric and diesel-electric), carriages, maintenance etc.

A version of the call has been published in the Journal of the European Union here: https://ted.europa.eu/udl?tabId=1&tabLang=en&uri=TED:NOTICE:557630-2021:HTML:DE:HTML

And Norske Tog have published a press release here with some highly subjective graphical renderings of what the interiors of such trains might look like: https://www.norsketog.no/nyheter/2021/slik-kan-norges-nye-fjerntog-bli

In summary:

• 17 complete train sets
• Night trains are required to have sleeping compartments of 2 and 4 bed, which can be converted for daytime use
• Night train proposals are invited for other innovative and affordable sleeping accommodation (they speculate about recliners, but this opens the door to Siemens sleeping pods)
• Awards will be weighted:
  • Operator Experience / Weighting: 15
  • Passenger Experience / Weighting: 15
  • Product Delivery / Weighting: 20
  • Project Delivery / Weighting: 20
  • Cost / Weighting: 30
    

 

[Suraggu]

The B5 coaches are a joy to travel in but they are certainly getting on no matter how good the last refurb was (plug sockets, WiFi and extremely comfortable seating for a 10 hour trip from Trondheim to Bodo), and the B7's are still intercity worthy the sleeper coaches however I find extremely cramped even though they make use of the larger Norwegian loading gauge.

The Di.4's must drink an insane amount of fuel being a two stroke 645 GM engine and have served the route well considering the overall failure of the Di.6 fleet.

Be interesting to see who bids for this work.

 

[30907]

Two things stand out:
1. day/night use - ingenious, and probably workable with the relatively short runs (Bødo apart - are they thinking of running through to/from Oslo?).
2. sleepers (not couchettes?) with apparently no washing facilities in the compartment, let alone ensuites. Apart from Regiojet's repurposed couchettes, that's definitely against the trend. It presumably follows from (1) as you wouldn't need in-compartment facilities.

 

[jamesontheroad]

As a stopgap, Vy (NSB) has secured a handful of older DB couchette cars. These were transported via Sweden to Finland where VR's engineering arm refurbished them. They recently returned via Sweden and some photographs of them passing Hallsberg are on the SJK Postvagnen forum here: https://www.postvagnen.com/sjk-forum/showthread.php/25982-Liggvagnar-mot-Norge-idag-Bilder

The route was via Haparanda (SE) and Tornio (FI) where the trains were temporarily re-gauged with Finnish bogies.

You can see that the carriages have been extensively rebuilt: one both pairs of original doors adjacent to the bulkhead have been completely removed and a new, wider pair of openings have been created in the middle of the carriage by sacrificing one compartment.

 

[30907]

As a stopgap, Vy (NSB) has secured a handful of older DB couchette cars. These were transported via Sweden to Finland where VR's engineering arm refurbished them. They recently returned via Sweden and some photographs of them passing Hallsberg are on the SJK Postvagnen forum here: https://www.postvagnen.com/sjk-forum/showthread.php/25982-Liggvagnar-mot-Norge-idag-Bilder

The route was via Haparanda (SE) and Tornio (FI) where the trains were temporarily re-gauged with Finnish bogies.

You can see that the carriages have been extensively rebuilt: one both pairs of original doors adjacent to the bulkhead have been completely removed and a new, wider pair of openings have been created in the middle of the carriage by sacrificing one compartment.

Interesting development - memory says that NSB hasn't traditionally operated couchettes; presumably they will strengthen the existing Bergen route night train?

 

[jamesontheroad]

Interesting development - memory says that NSB hasn't traditionally operated couchettes; presumably they will strengthen the existing Bergen route night train?

Yes. And maybe one day (when this new order arrives) they’ll be displaced onto a new route towards Germany.

 

[superalbs]

Two things stand out:
1. day/night use - ingenious, and probably workable with the relatively short runs (Bødo apart - are they thinking of running through to/from Oslo?).
2. sleepers (not couchettes?) with apparently no washing facilities in the compartment, let alone ensuites. Apart from Regiojet's repurposed couchettes, that's definitely against the trend. It presumably follows from (1) as you wouldn't need in-compartment facilities.

It sounds to me ever so similar to Ukrzaliznytsia's new 'Transformer' carriages.

 

[rf_ioliver]

And Norske Tog have published a press release here with some highly subjective graphical renderings of what the interiors of such trains might look like: https://www.norsketog.no/nyheter/2021/slik-kan-norges-nye-fjerntog-bli

Those seats remind me of VR's (Finland) business class seats. Surprisingly comfy.

 

[rbannocks]

Norske Tog have published a call for tenders for new intercity trains, including locomotives (electric and diesel-electric), carriages, maintenance etc.

A version of the call has been published in the Journal of the European Union here: https://ted.europa.eu/udl?tabId=1&tabLang=en&uri=TED:NOTICE:557630-2021:HTML:DE:HTML

And Norske Tog have published a press release here with some highly subjective graphical renderings of what the interiors of such trains might look like: https://www.norsketog.no/nyheter/2021/slik-kan-norges-nye-fjerntog-bli

In summary:

• 17 complete train sets
• Night trains are required to have sleeping compartments of 2 and 4 bed, which can be converted for daytime use
• Night train proposals are invited for other innovative and affordable sleeping accommodation (they speculate about recliners, but this opens the door to Siemens sleeping pods)
• Awards will be weighted:
  • Operator Experience / Weighting: 15
  • Passenger Experience / Weighting: 15
  • Product Delivery / Weighting: 20
  • Project Delivery / Weighting: 20
  • Cost / Weighting: 30

Well thank god. The VY service to Nordland is practiaclly unbookable at present as all the seats are sold out for months ahead.

 

[the sniper]

Well thank god. The VY service to Nordland is practiaclly unbookable at present as all the seats are sold out for months ahead.

These presumably won't go to what is currently the VY Tåg service to Nordland though, which is the commercial Swedish Vy operation, if that's what you mean? The Norwegian services to/through Nordland is operated by SJ Norge, which will presumable benefit from this order. Well, maybe only for a few years or less, as Norwegian Labour stopped the tendering of the remaining 'traffic packages', so hopefully the whole lot comes back to Vy in time and becomes a comprehensible system again, if they stay in power...

 

[rbannocks]

These presumably won't go to what is currently the VY Tåg service to Nordland though, which is the commercial Swedish Vy operation, if that's what you mean? The Norwegian services to/through Nordland is operated by SJ Norge, which will presumable benefit from this order. Well, maybe only for a few years or less, as Norwegian Labour stopped the tendering of the remaining 'traffic packages', so hopefully the whole lot comes back to Vy in time and becomes a comprehensible system again, if they stay in power...

Yes my bad this Swedes running Norwegian Trains and Norwegians running Swedish trains is very confusing.

 

[the sniper]

Yes my bad this Swedes running Norwegian Trains and Norwegians running Swedish trains is very confusing.

No problem at all, it is ridiculous!

 

[daodao]

Yes my bad this Swedes running Norwegian Trains and Norwegians running Swedish trains is very confusing.

The Newcastle-based Go Ahead group runs the passenger trains on the inter-city line from Oslo to Stavanger, as well as Stavanger local services and one of the few surviving branch lines to Arendal. [The Norwegian railways had their own "Beeching-style" cuts in the late 1980s when many branch lines were axed.]

Will the new trains be solely for Vy operations, or will some be allocated to the foreign-run franchises?

 

[jamesontheroad]

Will the new trains be solely for Vy operations, or will some be allocated to the foreign-run franchises?

The new trains are being ordered by Norske Tog, who manage all the commonly held rolling stock. However, given the election of a Liberal government, who knows what sort of system of nationalisation/liberalisation Norway will have by the time they arrive.

The second-hand couchettes discussed up-thread were, however, bought by Vy, so they will stay on the Oslo-Bergen line for now. There is no sign on the new class of couchette compartment on trains departing immediately after 12 December, so I don't think they will be in service in time for the timetable change.

 

[JonasB]

Well thank god. The VY service to Nordland is practiaclly unbookable at present as all the seats are sold out for months ahead.

These presumably won't go to what is currently the VY Tåg service to Nordland though, which is the commercial Swedish Vy operation, if that's what you mean? The Norwegian services to/through Nordland is operated by SJ Norge, which will presumable benefit from this order. Well, maybe only for a few years or less, as Norwegian Labour stopped the tendering of the remaining 'traffic packages', so hopefully the whole lot comes back to Vy in time and becomes a comprehensible system again, if they stay in power...

To add to the confusion, please note the difference between Nordland (Norway) and Norrland (Sweden). Nordland is served by SJ Norge and Vy Sverige, Norrland by SJ, Vy Sverige and a number of regional trains.

 

[ta-toget]

However, given the election of a Liberal government, who knows what sort of system of nationalisation/liberalisation Norway will have by the time they arrive.

There are rumours of removing competition/using direct awards.

Article from E24 (in Norwegian)
Article from VG (in Norwegian)
Article from NRK (in Norwegian)

 

[jamesontheroad]

As a stopgap, Vy (NSB) has secured a handful of older DB couchette cars. These were transported via Sweden to Finland where VR's engineering arm refurbished them. They recently returned via Sweden and some photographs of them passing Hallsberg are on the SJK Postvagnen forum here: https://www.postvagnen.com/sjk-forum/showthread.php/25982-Liggvagnar-mot-Norge-idag-Bilder

Vy has started selling tickets on the Oslo-Bergen line in these newly refurbished couchette cars. They can only be booked as entire compartments, you cannot book a berth in a shared compartment. Most of the cars them will be used in night trains, but one of the carriages with bicycle spaces will be used in a daytime train.

Info: https://www.vy.no/alt-om-reisen/tog/billetter/kupe

 

[185]

Was on B7s the other day on the Bergen line, still a comfy seat & excellent ride quality. Hope they ain't retiring these anytime soon.

 

[JonasB]

Four companies have qualified to take part in the process:

• Stadler
• Alstom Transport Norway AS
• CAF
• Talgo

Four manufacturers qualify for tendering competition to supply new long-distance trains

www.norsketog.no