Stadler Chooses KBC for MARTA Subway Brakes

Sign up for our weekly email to stay on top of the latest news and insights!

Source: Knorr-Bremse announcement

Munich/Westminster, Md. – Knorr-Bremse’s U.S. passenger rail subsidiary, Knorr Brake Company LLC (KBC), will supply braking systems for Atlanta’s MARTA’s new fleet of approximately 254 subway cars to be supplied by the U.S. subsidiary of Stadler, the Swiss train manufacturer.

The project, valued in the lower double-digit million-euro range, is KBC’s first order for braking systems with major operator MARTA, further strengthening its market position in the North American urban rail segment.

Related post:
Tests Confirm Efficacy of Knorr-Bremse Filtration System

“Stadler and Knorr-Bremse have maintained a close and trusted relationship ever since both companies entered the North American railway market,” commented Dr. Jürgen Wilder, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG and responsible for the Rail Vehicle Systems division. “Therefore, we are all the more pleased to be able to conclude this long-term original equipment order, which anew underlines our strong position in the urban transport segment.”

“This contract is Knorr Brake Company’s first-ever order for braking systems with MARTA, and we are very proud to be Stadler’s partner of choice to help replace Atlanta’s metro fleet,” added Jason Connell, President and CEO of KBC. “A robust technical design, light-weight solutions to help enable energy efficiency, and the power of our proven technologies and technical support were among the winning factors in the order’s tender process.”

Technologies within the contract include bogie brake equipment, the Knorr-Bremse PistonSupply Eco (VV80-T™) oil-free compressor with dedicated air supply unit inverters designed and produced specifically for U.S. metro applications.

Brake controls and wheel slide protection (WSP) dump valves, also a part of the agreement, will interface with the train control and management system (TCMS) via a platform developed by Selectron, Knorr-Bremse’s subsidiary for integrated digital and cyber security solutions.

“Stadler has selected Knorr-Bremse due to their continued outstanding performance and state-of-the-art system design,” said Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler US Inc. “The MARTA project is one of our largest projects in the U.S. so far.

“With Knorr as our partner, we expect to fulfill our promise to our customer by delivering exceptional, top-of-the-line METRO cars to MARTA.”

Sign up for our weekly email to stay on top of the latest news and insights!

While most of the braking components will be produced at KBC’s Westminster, Md.-based facility, the vehicles will be manufactured by Stadler US Inc. in its new Salt Lake City plant and delivered to Atlanta to replace existing metro cars. The initial deliveries from KBC are expected in the first quarter of 2022 and will run through the close of 2028.

The Brake Report
The Brake Report

The BRAKE Report is an online media platform dedicated to the automotive and commercial vehicle brake segments. Our mission is to provide the global brake community with the latest news & headlines from around the industry.