Alstom has begun fitting out the first of eight new Pendolino ETR 610 trains for Swiss operator SBB.
The body shells for the new train have been moved to a specially-built workshop at Alstom’s Savigliano site in Italy to begin the next stage of its construction.
The first and second train, which is currently being assembled, will be handed over by the end of 2014.
SBB is hoping to bring the new trains into service on the Gotthard line in 2015 for its EuroCity services between Geneva and Milan.
Just recently, SBB received approval to operate trains through the Simplon tunnel, which links Switzerland with Italy, up until 2017.
In May 2014, the first train will perform test runs in Germany followed by acceptance runs in Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
Joseph Deiss, president of Alstom Switzerland, said: “We are glad to have achieved the important milestone of the handover of the body-shells and thereby to have reassured the trust placed in us by SBB.”
“The Alstom team is strongly committed to delivering these new Pendolino ETR 610 trains on time and to the complete satisfaction of SBB.”
Can you explain this sentence? “Just recently, SBB received approval to operate trains through the Simplon tunnel, which links Switzerland with Italy, up until 2017.” SBB is the primary operator of trains through the Simplon tunnel, and has been for some time. Sorry if I am being thick…