CAF has submitted the only offer in a tender to supply eight low-floor LRVs for the Granada Metro light rail line, which opened in September 2017. The budget for the tender is €43.9m, with the vehicles due to enter service within 22 months of contract signing.
The order is fully financed by the European Union via the €50.6bn Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (REACT-EU) Covid economic recovery fund.
Granada’s 15.9km light rail line connects Albolote in the north with Armilla in the south via a 2.7km underground section in the city centre.
Granada Metro already operates a fleet of 15 32.4m-long CAF Urbos LRVs, which have been in service since the line opened. The vehicles are equipped with CAF Power & Automation’s Greentech FreeDrive energy storage system for catenary-free operation on three sections of the route.
Granada Metro says the additional LRVs will enable it to respond to “favourable demand” and significantly improve services, with 40% more seats and a reduction in peak headways from eight to six minutes. With two vehicles as maintenance spares and 21 in operation at peak times, the total fleet capacity will increase from 3315 to 4641 passengers.
The acquisition of additional trams will also enable multiple operation during special events and increase fleet capacity for the southern extension from Armilla, Churriana de la Vega and Las Gabias, which has already received REACT-EU funding.
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