NS ordered FLIRT Flex EMUs
posted on 19th Nov 2025 11:03
On 19 November 2025, Nederlandse Spoorwegen and Stadler have signed a 400 million EUR framework agreement for the delivery of 36 FLIRTs for commuter transport. NS is increasing capacity with the new fleet of 18 four-car and 18 six-car Sprinters called FLIRT Flex, aiming to meet the needs of growing ridership in the Netherlands in the coming years. The latest agreement strengthens the long-standing partnership between NS and Stadler, since the national operator already uses 134 FLIRTs.
The new 1.5 kV DC trains with a maximum speed of 160 km/h are expected to start on the NS network in 2030. The plan is to deliver one vehicle every month since then. Stadler is engineering the trains at its Praha office, and they will be built in Siedlce. Unlike the current Sprinters, the FLIRT Flex units will once again be in the classic yellow and blue NS livery. In the coming period, Stadler and NS will jointly develop the final design, followed by an extensive period of production, testing and approval.
With this new order, NS will have a total of 205 new EMUs within a few years, including 60 new double-decker units (DDNG) from CAF and 109 ICNG units from Alstom. NS also has an option for further FLIRTs, including the versions suitable for operation in Belgium and Germany.
We asked NS to answer the questions below:
1) how many units should work in 2030? In other words, for what period is scheduled the dellivery time of the whole batch?
2) We understand that "In the coming period, Stadler and NS will jointly develop the final design", but anyway 5 years (or more) for starting of delivery seems a bit long time… Does NS see it similarly? What is the reason?
3) which other companies took part in the tender for these trains?
4) in what day month year the tender was announced? In what day month 2025 it was decided?
5) were there any court complaints of other participants?
NS answered us: "You can find more information here: NS start aanbesteding voor nieuwe Sprinters. And here: NS koopt 36 nieuwe sprinters, treinen ook als IC inzetbaar.
We don’t know when the trains will come specifically yet."
We asked again: Thanks for your info. We read these PRs earlier, of course, but they don’t answer our questions… NS signed a contract, and the are surely the delivery dates. Please answer us the questions posed.
NS reacted: "This is all the information we can give you."
