Zentralbahn, RhB and MGB plan to standardize rolling stock procurement
Stansstad/Chur/Brig - The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB), zb Zentralbahn AG and the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) plan to standardize their rolling stock for future procurements. This is intended to reduce costs related to procurement, operation and maintenance. A new zb multiple-unit train has already been tested on the MGB network.
The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn from Brig in the canton of Valais, the Rhaetian Railway from Chur in the canton of Graubünden and Zentralbahn from Stansstad in the canton of Nidwalden are seeking closer cooperation in the procurement of their meter-gauge trains. The rolling stock is intended to share as many technical components as possible while still being tailored to the needs of the individual railways.
According to a statement, plans include uniform dimensions, doors, cabs and couplers as well as standardized components for passenger information systems and interior fittings. The railways will retain individual customization options regarding design, seat types and amenities. The shared technology will allow for the procurement of larger quantities and simplify the storage of spare parts. In addition, the railways would be able to exchange vehicles in the event of prolonged service disruptions.
At the end of October, a new FINK multiple-unit train from Zentralbahn was transported to Visp for certification testing on the MGB network. The trains can be switched between the different overhead line voltages, 11 kilovolts on the MGB and RhB lines and 15 kilovolts on the Zentralbahn line. They cannot operate on the MGB’s mountain routes due to differences in the rack-and-pinion systems.
At the conclusion of the testing on 9 November, representatives from the three railways reaffirmed their collaboration during a vehicle christening ceremony in Brig. The tested multiple-unit train was named Saltina, after the river of the same name that flows through Brig.
The basis for this cooperation is a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2025. The railways are currently evaluating the economic feasibility of a joint procurement.
