NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has signed a contract with CAF for the supply of 60 EMUs with seating capacity for a total of 30,000 passengers.
The order for 30 four-car and 30 six-car EMUs is worth €600m and includes options for more trains that will offer up to 80,000 seats.
NS and CAF are now collaborating on the design stage, with the new 160km/h fleet expected to enter service in 2028. The EMUs are intended only for domestic operations and will take power at 1.5kV dc.
The order marks another success in the Dutch market for CAF, which has supplied 206 Sprinter New Generation (SNG) EMUs to NS for stopping services.
The new EMU fleet is based on CAF’s Civity platform, and is the first train type to be ordered by NS with both single and double-deck coaches.
This train format combines high seating capacity with single-deck cars to provide level boarding for passengers with reduced mobility, equipped with a retractable ramp to bridge the gap between the train and the station platform.
The new trains will both expand the NS fleet and replace the double-deck DDZ fleet delivered in the early 1990s.
“The single-deck coaches offer easy access, while the intermediate double-deck coaches offer high seating capacity,” says NS director for new rolling stock, Mr Roel Ockhuijsen.
“The train will offer our passengers good comfort during the journey, like the possibility of recharging devices, Wi-Fi and comfortable seats. The maximum speed will be 160km/h, faster than older double-deck trains, which is important for achieving shorter journey times.”
“We are delighted that NS has chosen CAF again,” says CAF commercial director, Mr Josu Esnaola. “In recent years we have gained useful experience with the introduction of the SNG. This train has been operating since 2018 and has been received with pleasure by our customer.”
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