Railway automation and infrastructure modernization for steep mountain lines

Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR AG) has commissioned Stadler to deliver a unified rolling stock and signalling architecture for the steep mountain railway between Montreux and Les Rochers-de-Naye. This procurement contract integrates hybrid rack-and-pinion locomotives, passenger railcars, and communication-based train control (CBTC) systems for railway maintenance and transit operations.

Procurement and Operational Challenges
MVR AG, a subsidiary of the Montreux-Berner Oberland Railway (MOB AG), manages the 800-millimeter gauge mountain railway infrastructure. Stadler operates as the contracted developer and manufacturer of the rolling stock and signalling technology. The operational challenge involves managing track maintenance and passenger transit on an 11-kilometer route with significant gradients. MVR AG chose to procure service vehicles, passenger trains, and train control systems from a single supplier to ensure technical compatibility, reduce interface complexity, and improve industrial automation across the infrastructure.

System Specifications and Responsibilities
Under this contract, Stadler is responsible for designing and manufacturing two HGem 4/4 four-axle rack-and-pinion locomotives for maintenance duties, alongside eight passenger railcars. The maintenance locomotives measure 13.5 meters in length and feature a hybrid propulsion system, enabling operation via electrified catenary or diesel power for uninterrupted maintenance functionality. The vehicles are engineered for a maximum power output of 1,320 kW and a maximum starting tractive effort of 220 kN, achieving speeds up to 25 km/h. To unify the operational architecture, Stadler is also supplying a centralized CBTC signalling system. This system executes train control, traffic management, and automation functions, embedding the necessary communication interfaces directly into both the maintenance locomotives and passenger trains.

Deployment and Infrastructure Integration
The deployment requires a phased integration of the newly procured rolling stock alongside parallel infrastructure upgrades by MVR AG, which include the renewal of the catenary, power supply systems, and track installations. The manufacturing of the locomotives and railcars occurs at the Stadler facility in Bussnang, Switzerland. MVR AG manages the physical track and power enhancements, while Stadler engineers the installation of the CBTC system along the route and integrates the corresponding onboard units into the vehicles. The complete deployment of both the rolling stock and the digital infrastructure is scheduled for 2029.

Industrial Applications and Operational Benefits
The primary application of this integrated system is the maintenance and operation of high-gradient railway infrastructure. The specific technical use case for the hybrid locomotives involves executing track maintenance and transporting necessary equipment independent of catenary power availability. Standardizing the signalling system across all vehicles improves traffic management precision, resulting in enhanced process stability, optimized maintenance scheduling, and increased safety for mixed passenger and service vehicle traffic on a single-track line.

Expected Technical Impact
By coupling the 1,320 kW hybrid maintenance vehicles with automated CBTC signalling, MVR AG establishes a closed control loop for the entire 11-kilometer line. The technical outcome of this unified procurement strategy is a standardized operational platform that eliminates interface redundancies between trackside signalling equipment and onboard train control units, yielding a measurable increase in system maintainability and operational readiness.

Edited by Aishwarya Mambet, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.

www.stadlerrail.com