Stadler, the Swiss train manufacturer that operates its North American headquarters on Salt Lake City's west side, will build at least 10 new FrontRunner trainsets under a $328.3 million contract, according to public procurement records posted to UDOT's Bonfire portal. The company was the sole bidder on the deal, and a Utah Department of Transportation evaluation committee determined the pricing was "fair and reasonable."

For riders at the Draper station, the contract is the equipment half of a larger overhaul. The FrontRunner 2X project, a $3.2 billion joint effort by UDOT and the Utah Transit Authority, will double-track 11 sections of the commuter rail line and cut peak-hour wait times from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. Off-peak service would improve from hourly to every 30 minutes. UTA projects a 53% ridership increase once the upgrades are complete.

FrontRunner already runs at 90% capacity during peak hours in the peak direction, according to UTA data. The current trains have been in service since the line opened in 2008.

Contract still in negotiation

UDOT spokesperson Mitch Shaw told the Salt Lake Tribune on Monday, July 20, that the contract "is not finalized" and that the agency does not discuss procurement contracts still in process. A sole-source procurement at this dollar level is notable; UDOT's committee said Stadler's proposal provided "the best value to the state."

Stadler spokesperson Charlotte Thalhammer said the two sides were still meeting to work out specifics. She said Stadler won't know what exact type of vehicles Utah officials want until negotiations wrap up in roughly two months.

Based on UDOT's technical requirements and Stadler's existing product line, the new trains are expected to be a version of the company's FLIRT model, a self-propelled trainset with an integrated engine and cab capable of speeds up to 125 mph, though Thalhammer said the exact vehicle type has not been determined. The current fleet uses diesel-powered locomotives pulling bi-level passenger cars at a top speed of about 79 mph. UDOT's technical specifications require the new units to deliver improved performance, energy efficiency, and reliability over the existing fleet.

A draft purchasing contract also shows officials want the option of ordering up to 40 additional trains beyond the initial 10, plus a driver training simulator.

Local manufacturing angle

Stadler opened its Salt Lake City plant in 2019 and celebrated the completion of a facility expansion on Tuesday, July 1. The company already won a separate UTA contract in October 2024 to build CityLink trainsets for the TRAX Blue Line.

"Stadler is an obvious choice, because the FLIRT is an innovative, adaptable train and it's made here in our own backyard," Mike Christensen, executive director of the Utah Rail Passengers Association, told City Weekly in early July when the preliminary contract award was first reported.

The FrontRunner 2X project map also shows a future Point of the Mountain station between Draper and Lehi, which would add a stop directly serving the Silicon Slopes tech corridor.

What comes next

Construction on the double-tracking is scheduled for 2027 through 2030, with train manufacturing and testing on a similar timeline. State officials do not expect new tracks and trains to begin service for at least four years. The project depends on roughly $2.1 billion in federal Capital Investment Grant funding, with grant approval expected in 2027. The remaining $1.1 billion comes from local sources.

The FrontRunner 2X fact sheet identifies the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as a key driver of the project's investment timeline.