[EU / Expert] Talents face delays: Trains ordered from Bombardier missing in the operation [updated]

Bottlenecks in the production increased labor costs or implementation of new regulations changing software requirements. There have been several reasons stated by Bombardier to stand behind the delays in deliveries of its Talent 2 and Talent 3 units. Three operators have been affected the most: Abellio and Vlexx in Germany and ÖBB in Austria.

Following the success of its first generation of Talents, Bombardier has introduced a newer design and features with the second generation of their single-deck continental Europe EMUs. At Innotrans 2016 the company has announced Talent 3 units – keeping the design of the second generation, yet with new technical features.

Since then, orders have been placed for the units made by Bombardier’s facility in Berlin-Hennigsdorf: Frame contract with ÖBB (AT) for 300 trains, Abellio and the state of Baden-Württemberg (DE) ordering totally 52 units, as well as Saarland Ministry of Transport and Vlexx (DE) ordering 21 units in total. For each of the customers, many units have been completed, none of them have them all – with contractual deadlines constantly postponed. We have looked at the current developments:

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