ABB announced that it has won orders worth about USD 75 million from Swiss train manufacturer Stadler Rail to supply traction and onboard power equipment.

ABB said that the equipment will be installed in 50 light electric trains for Norwegian State Railways to be used in the Greater Oslo area and as intercity trains in southern Norway. The orders also include compact integrated traction converters for about 30 diesel electric trains Stadler Rail is building for transport companies in the United States, Austria and other countries.

Mr Tom Sjoekvist head of ABB's Automation Products division said that "This contract clearly demonstrates ABB's special combination of leading edge technology and rail industry expertise. It confirms our position as a reliable, long term partner and the supplier of choice for modern rail systems."

These orders, booked in the second quarter of 2009, continue a highly productive business cooperation between ABB and Stadler Rail that began in 2002. In late 2008, ABB won similar orders from Stadler Rail to supply power electronics traction equipment for trains used in Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Switzerland.

ABB's scope of supply includes specially designed traction converters with integrated onboard power supplies as well as traction transformers. Compact, lightweight ABB traction products convert electricity from overhead power lines or diesel generators to the voltage levels needed by a train's motors and a host of auxiliary power systems.