The $US 55m contract - Talgo’s first for the refurbishment of metro trains - calls for the overhaul of 38 vehicles, with a $US 18m option for the remaining 36 vehicles in the A650 fleet.

The work will be carried out at Talgo’s plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is due to be completed within 56 months.

The A650 fleet was originally supplied by Breda in 1988-97 and is used on Metro Rail’s Red and Purple lines.