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KBC Wins Stadler MARTA Railcar Subcontract

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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Knorr Brake Company LLC (KBC), the U.S. passenger rail subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse, has secured a subcontract with Stadler US Inc. to supply braking systems for 254 railcars (127 two-car sets) Stadler is building for MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority). Exact contract terms were undisclosed; KBC said the amount is a “lower-double-digit million-euro sum.”

Stadler’s order from MARTA includes an option for an additional 100 cars (50 two-car sets). While most of the braking components will be produced at KBC’s Westminster, Md.-based facility, the vehicles will be manufactured by Stadler US Inc. in its new Salt Lake City, Utah plant and delivered to Atlanta to replace existing railcars. The initial deliveries from KBC are expected in the first quarter of 2022 and will run through the close of 2028. 

Technologies within KBC’s contract include bogie brake equipment, and the Knorr-Bremse PistonSupply Eco (VV80-T™) oil-free compressor with dedicated air supply unit inverters designed and produced specifically for U.S. metro applications. Brake controls and wheel slide protection (WSP) dump valves, also a part of the contract, will interface with the train control and management system (TCMS) via a platform developed by Selectron, Knorr-Bremse’s subsidiary for integrated digital and cyber security solutions.

The project is KBC’s first order for braking systems with MARTA, “further strengthening its market position in the North American urban rail segment,” the company noted.

“Stadler and Knorr-Bremse have maintained a close and trusted relationship ever since both companies entered the North American railway market,” said Dr. Jürgen Wilder, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG and responsible for the company’s Rail Vehicle Systems division. “Therefore, we are all the more pleased to be able to conclude this long-term original equipment order, which anew underlines our strong position in the urban transport segment.”

“We are very proud to be Stadler’s partner of choice to help replace Atlanta’s metro fleet,” said KBC President and CEO Jason Connell. “A robust technical design, light-weight solutions to help enable energy efficiency, and the power of our proven technologies and technical support were among the winning factors in the order’s tender process.”

“Stadler has selected Knorr-Bremse due to its continued outstanding performance and state-of-the-art system design,” said Stadler US Inc. CEO Martin Ritter. “The MARTA project is one of our largest projects in the U.S. so far. With Knorr as our partner, we expect to fulfill our promise to our customer by delivering exceptional, top-of-the-line metro cars to MARTA.”

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