The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGBahn) has started operating a Stadler-built multiple-unit with a newly developed braking system on the rack-and-pinion section between Andermatt and Göschenen.
The braking system, developed jointly by MGBahn and Stadler, is being presented under the name “v+”. Its design meets technical requirements for stopping distances while enabling faster descent on steep rack sections. According to the companies, the braking system was authorised by the Swiss Federal Office of Transport and co-financed with federal support.
Stadler adapted one of its ORION low-floor multiple units for the project. The new speed profile allows a 4-minute reduction in journey time on the short Andermatt–Göschenen link, currently operated with a 15-minute timetable. As a result, the operator is now able to run a half-hourly service on the route with a single vehicle, reducing fleet requirements on this section.
At present, the time gained is being used for stabilising connections and maintaining operational buffers. The implementation forms part of an initiative by MGBahn to modify rolling stock and optimise regional operations in mountainous terrain.
Following the commissioning of the prototype, the operator plans to retrofit 11 existing ORION units with the same system. The upcoming series of 25 new ORION multiple units, due for delivery from 2026, will also be delivered with the v+ system pre-installed.
MGBahn and Stadler positioned the project as a technical response to operational limitations on steep gradients, with possible implications for other rack-and-pinion railway operations. The braking system is designed for use on rack railways and may be applicable to future orders involving similar configurations.
