The Stadler KISS is a family of bilevel electric multiple unit commuter trains developed and built since 2008 by Stadler Rail of Switzerland. As of 2025, around 700 KISS trainsets have been sold to operators in 14 countries. Boarding is done into the lower deck.
Name In the early stages of its development, the KISS was known as the Stadler DOSTO. This name was derived from the German word Doppelstock, meaning "double decker". This is still the name used for the Swedish market because "kiss" means "pee" in Swedish.
Since September 2010, Stadler refers to the train as "KISS", an acronym for "Komfortabler Innovativer Spurtstarker S-Bahn-Zug", meaning "comfortable, innovative, sprint-capable suburban train".Stadler press release , 22 September 2010
In Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) service, the train is classified as RABe 511, while a newer version for regional services is classified as RABe 512. BLS classifies them as RABe 515. For the Eastern European market (specifically in Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan), it is branded Eurasia.
Naming of RABe 511 trains A total of 93 trainsets (69 six-car/24 four-car units) were delivered to Swiss Federal Railways, numbered 511 001–511 093, some for use on the long-distance IR or RE lines (red-white-grey livery) and others on the Zurich S-Bahn network (red-white-blue livery) in the Zurich metropolitan area.
In Switzerland, it is common practice to name electric multiple units (e.g. SBB RABe 501, RABDe 500, RABe 514, SOB RABe 526, BLS RABe 515) and locomotives (e.g. SBB Ae 6/6, Re 6/6, Re 450, Re 460). Fourteen RABe 511 trainsets are named, mostly after Swiss communes or cantons with the name and respective coat of arms (COA) indicated at both ends of the trainset. The table below lists all named RABe 511 with their respective number (№). Trainsets of Zurich S-Bahn are indicated with an *:
Named SBB RABe 511 units № COA Name № COA Name № COA Name 511 001* Berlin 511 016 Kanton Luzern 511 033* Winterthur 511 002* Stadt Zürich 511 017 Kanton Schaffhausen 511 048* Rapperswil-Jona 511 010* Urdorf 511 022 Kanton St. Gallen 511 059 — Pünten 511 011* Dietikon 511 023 Kanton Graubünden 511 067 Zell ZH 511 014* Wettingen 511 031 Bezirk Affoltern
Features The KISS family was created as the third generation of vehicles for the Zürich S-Bahn. Compared to previous generations, they are characterized mainly by a higher number of standing passengers per car, in part because the longer trains have proportionately fewer seats. The trains are wider due to placing the HVAC channels under the ceiling instead of behind side panels. The headroom is still two meters, because friction stir welded floor panels made from aluminium extrusions are used. The number of seats, however, is slightly lower than in the previous models. Like in the KISS's predecessors, low-floor entrances, vehicle air conditioning and vacuum toilets (two, including one wheelchair accessible) are available. There are also two multi-functional areas with storage space for strollers, bicycles and the like.
The six-car train set consists of two head power cars and four intermediate trailers. In the power heads, all axles are powered. The "Eurasia" version for the Russian gauge railways, in a six and four-car formation, has two trailer heads and two shorter intermediate power cars, and also two intermediate trailers in a six car formation. A special diesel-electric version of the "Eurasia" train, which first appeared in 2021, is manufactured in an eight-car formation, including 2 double-deck head cars, 2 diesel generator cars, 3 intermediate double-deck cars and 1 single-deck car.
Iberian gauge KISS vehicles (labelled "T100" and "T200") ordered by Renfe in Spain are currently being tested, which will feature a combination of single-deck FLIRT end cars joined by either two double-decker KISS intermediate cars or with two extra single-deck FLIRT intermediate cars. Despite an original 2025 production timeline, as of January 2026, such trainsets have yet to enter service.
Customers Year of order Year of service Customer Country No. of trainsets No. of cars Notes 2008 2012 Swiss Federal Railways Switzerland 50 For use on the Zürich S-Bahn 2010 2012 BLS AG Switzerland 28 4 BLS RABe 515; for use on the Bern S-Bahn 2010 2012 Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn Germany 16 4 For regional lines in Berlin/ Brandenburg/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2010 2011 Westbahn (later ) Austria 7 6 For service between Vienna and Salzburg. To be transferred to DB Fernverkehr 2010 2012 Swiss Federal Railways Switzerland 24 For use on regional express lines Press release of SBB. Retrieved on 17. April 2010. 2010 2014 CFL Luxembourg 19 3 For service between Luxembourg and Koblenz, Luxembourg and Trier and Luxembourg and Düsseldorf 2013 2015 Westfalenbahn Germany 13 6 For regional lines in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony 2013 2016 Aeroexpress Russia 11 4 or 6 For the Moscow airport shuttle service as ESh2 "Eurasia" 2015 Azerbaijan Railways Azerbaijan 5 4 Labelled as EŞ2 "Eurasia" 2015 2017 BLS AG Switzerland 3 4 BLS RABe 515; for use on the Bern S-Bahn 2015 2016 Swiss Federal Railways Switzerland 19 For use on the Zürich S-Bahn 2015 2017 Westbahn (later ) Austria 91 46 For service between Vienna and Salzburg Sold to in 2020 for use as IC2 intercity trains on the Dresden–Berlin–Rostock line. 2016 Georgian Railways Georgia 4 4 Labelled as GRS "Eurasia" 2016 2019 Mälardalstrafik (leased from Transitio) Sweden 33 4 For use in the Mälaren Valley. Max speed 200 km/h. Designated as ER1. 2016 11 August 2024 Caltrain United States 23 1 74 Part of the Caltrain Modernization Program. As of August 2023, 161 cars (23 7-car sets), plus one 4 car bi-level BEMU for use between Tamien and Gilroy, with 55 options remaining. 2017 2019Kollektivtrafikförvaltningen UL (later Mälardalstrafik; leased from Transitio)Sweden84For the "Upptåget" service between Uppsala-Gävle. 2017 15 March 2020 MÁV-Start Hungary 40(19+21) 6 The first vehicle may enter service in the second quarter of 2020, the last of which will begin in early 2021 2018 2020 BLS AG Switzerland 8 4–6 BLS RABe 515; for use on long-distance routes 2018 2022Slovenske železniceSlovenia103SŽ class 313/318 2019 2021 Westbahn Austria 15 6 For service between Vienna and Salzburg. Replace for trainsets sold to DB 2021 2021 Azerbaijan Railways Azerbaijan 1 8 Special DMU for railway administration officials. Labelled as DŞ2 "Eurasia" 2021 19 March 2022 Srbija Voz Serbia 3 4 ŽS 410. For 200 km/h service between Belgrade, Novi Sad and Subotica on high-speed "Soko" intercity services.202115 February 2024Železničná spoločnosť SlovenskoSlovakia46For service on lines Bratislava–Trenčín and Bratislava–Nové Zámky. 4th unit delivery delayed till November 2024 due to an accident on Velim test centre. 2021 17 July 2023 Swiss Federal Railways Switzerland 60 6 In ordering them, Swiss Federal Railways exercised options from previous orders. They were first rolled out on the Zurich-Schaffhausen route, and are planned to be spread to other routes in Switzerland, generally centring on Zurich or Lausanne, gradually between 2024 and 2027. 2021 2025 (planned) Renfe (Cercanías division) Spain 79 24 100m trains and 55 200m trains (), for Cercanías Madrid and Rodalies de Catalunya. 2019 2022 Germany 18 Trainsets purchased for DB Regio 2021 2023 (leased from Transitio) Sweden 14 4 For service between Ludvika and Västerås and other routes in the Bergslagen region.2022 20232026 (planned)ÖBBAustria20+42 134/6 620 four-car sets + 42 six-car sets: 160 km/h for Vienna ÖBB Regional and City Airport Train;13 six-car Railjet: 200 km/h20242026 (planned)BDŽBulgaria7+3160 km/h
See also List of stock used by Swiss Federal Railways Bombardier Omneo SBB-CFF-FFS RABe 514 (Siemens Desiro) SJ X40 (Alstom Coradia) ČD Class 471 (CityElefant) UZ Class 675 (Škoda EJ 675)
Notes
References
External links
Stadler Rail KISS (official website) Spec Sheet; French