SPANISH national operator Renfe has issued a tender for the supply of 30 high-speed trains with a maximum operating speed of 350km/h. The contract will include an option for a further 10 sets, and with an estimated total value of €1.78bn for all 40 trains, Renfe says it is the largest single purchase of high-speed rolling stock in the company’s history.
According to the tender announced on March 25, the new standard-gauge trains must be equipped with ETCS levels 1 and 2 as well as the Spanish Asfa automatic train protection (ATP) system. Each train will have a minimum of 450 seats across two classes and will be accessible for passengers with reduced mobility. There must also be areas for bicycles as well as onboard catering facilities.
The initial contract for 30 trains is expected to be worth €1.36bn. Renfe will assess the technical, economic and maintenance content of bids, which will enable it to identify the most suitable in terms of efficiency, availability and the number of seats offered, along with operational reliability and adherence to delivery schedules.
The first five trains are expected to be delivered within 40 months of the contract being signed. The entire fleet must be operational within 78 months.
The new trains will primarily replace the oldest trains in Renfe’s high-speed fleet, dating from the opening of the Madrid - Seville line in 1992. The operator says that it is ordering new trains in response to anticipated ridership growth, as well as the continuing expansion of the Spanish high-speed network and in order to meet the objective of strengthening Renfe’s position in the wider European high-speed market.
Renfe says that the new trains will be ready to operate at 350km/h once infrastructure is upgraded and approved for the higher maximum speed. It says this will cut journey times and place it “at the forefront of international rail transport technology.”
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