The contract is being tendered as an option and firm orders are dependent on Abellio NRW winning contracts to operate regional services in Germany.

The operator, which is owned by Netherlands Railways (NS), specifies that the trains must be delivered between January and July 2016, although the tender notice says the delivery date is flexible.

Abellio also stipulates that the chosen design must be granted an Authorisation to Place in Service without any restrictions by the German Federal Railway Authority (EBA).

For the latest rail industry tenders, visit www.globalrailtenders.com