Finnish Railways confirm 2 orders with ALSTOM worth 225
million euros

The first order, worth 110 million euros, is the
confirmation of an option for 20 electrical multiple units
(EMUs), from ALSTOM's
CORADIA
family, to be used for commuter traffic in Helsinki and on
the regional link to Tampere. Ten similar trains have already
been delivered by ALSTOM to VR, as part of an initial order
placed in 1996.

The new 2-car trains will have a capacity of 284 passengers
and will operate at a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The first
delivery of the new trains is expected to take place in May
2004.

The second order, worth 115 million euros, is the
confirmation of an option for the supply of 8 new
PENDOLINO
tilting trains. The delivery of the first trainset is
scheduled to start in spring 2004.

This order is part of a plan undertaken by VR for the
improvement of rail service on the main Finnish railway lines,
and brings to 18, the total of PENDOLINOs ordered today by VR
to ALSTOM. PENDOLINO trains are already in service in Finland
on the Helsinki-Turku; Helsinki-Jyvaskyla and Helsinki-Oulu
main lines.

Each train will comprise 6 cars and be able to carry up to
287 passengers at a maximum speed of 220 km/h.

The PENDOLINO train, thanks to its proven active tilting
system, can negotiate curves at speeds 35% higher than
conventional trains, with maximum safety and comfort for the
passengers. Today, 335 trains worldwide are equipped with
ALSTOM's active tilting technology,
TILTRONIX. Trains equipped with
this technology have journeys of around 165 million kilometres
in total.

With more than 35 product lines and a presence in over 60
countries, ALSTOM's Transport Sector offers cutting-edge
products and services to four distinct types of customers:
urban transit authorities and operators; intercity passenger
rail operators and rolling stock owners; rail freight
operators; and intercity railway infrastructure owners.
ALSTOM's Transport Sector, with 4.4 billion euros in sales in
2001, is among the world's leading suppliers to the railway
industry.

Editors notes

The CORADIA EMU trains for Finland - description

• 20 X 2- motorcar trainsets
  
• Track gauge : 1524 m 
• Line voltage: 25 kV (50Hz) 
• Carbody length: 26.82m 
• Carbody width: 3.2 m 
• Maximum axle load: 18 t (with passenger load) 
• Train tare weight : 114.6 t 
• Maximum speed: 160 kph 
• Train installed engine power : 1200 kW 
• Seats : 192 (including 8 tip-up seats) 
• External doors : 4 per side, electric sliding plug,
  width : 1600 mm 
• Access height: 0.58 m from top of rail (distance between
  floor and top of rail) 
• Air-conditioning 
• CCTV cameras in each car
  

The PENDOLINO for Finland - description

• 8 X 6-car trainsets; 4 motor and 2 trailer cars
  
• Track gauge : 1524 m 
• Line voltage: 25 kV (50Hz) 
• Carbody length: 25.9 m (intermediate cars) 27.2 m (end
  cars) 
• Carbody width: 3.2 m 
• Maximum axle load: 15.6 t (with passenger
  load) 
• Train tare weight : 330 t 
• Maximum speed: 220 kph 
• Train installed engine power : 4 mW 
• Seats : 285 + 2 wheelchair places 
• External doors : electrically activated, width 800
  mm 
• Internal doors : pneumatically actuated 
• Access height: 1.27 m from top of rail (distance between
  floor and top of rail) 
• Air-conditioning 
• On-board video monitors, radio, pc sockets, in all cars

Press information:
Helen Connolly

Tel. +33 (0)1 41 66 91 43

helen.connolly@transport.alstom.com

• To visit the VR website