The initial contract, awarded to CAF by Renfe in October last year, established the initial supply of 28 electric trains to run medium-distance services, together with the supply of their relevant depot parts and train maintenance services for 15 years.
This agreement includes further options to extend the scope in the future. One of these was the production of up to 42 additional trains and it is part of this option that Renfe has now enforced; specifically, 32 electric trains, of which 24 will be three-car consists and the other eight trains will be four-car consists.
The trains to be supplied by CAF will have similar specifications to those previously ordered – currently in the manufacturing process, with an operating speed of 200 km/h.
One of the standout features of the unit is its capacity to run short distances autonomously on sections of the network where there is no catenary or when required when a power cut occurs, on account of the batteries the units are equipped with. CAF’s incorporation of this technology on a number of its latest projects is testament of its commitment to developing this zero-emission solution to address passenger transport decarbonization.
The company is working in this area both by developing the vehicles themselves to make them more efficient and lighter, and by improving operation, with a view towards achieving optimum integration between vehicles and infrastructure.
The new contract extension agreement brings CAF’s projects with Renfe over the past three years to a total of more than €1bn.