SPANISH operator Renfe has placed a €200m order with CAF for the supply of 29 commuter EMUs together with spare parts - the third order it has placed with the domestic manufacturer in the past year as part of a fleet modernisation programme.

The contract includes an option to extend the future scope of the contract to nine additional EMUs, plus extra cars to extend the units in the initial order.

The trains will have a four-car basic configuration with capacity for over 500 passengers and incorporating Wi-Fi and passenger information systems. There will also be accessibility features for people with reduced mobility as well as technology to make journeys more comfortable for people with impaired sight and hearing.

The trains will be used on Cercanías suburban passenger services.

The order is part of a major investment plan by Renfe aimed at updating a significant portion of its train fleet with a view to increasing efficiency and sustainability. This is the third contract awarded to CAF within this modernisation plan, and together with existing contracts raises the manufacturer’s turnover with Renfe to above €750m.

In October 2022, Renfe awarded CAF a €290m contract to supply 28 200km/h EMUs for medium-distance services, and in December it signed a €183m contract with the manufacturer for a further 28 trains for medium distance services - although this was four fewer than Renfe had originally envisaged.

In addition, in December 2022 Renfe placed a €367.6m order with Alstom for the supply of 49 100m-long Coradia Stream suburban EMUs with a mixed configuration of both single and double-deck cars, and a €307.7m order with Stadler for 20 200m-long commuter trains.

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