The contract was signed by Renfe president, Mr Isaiah Táboas, and CAF CEO, Mr Andres Arizkorreta on December 29, and follows Renfe's selection of CAF in June 2020.

The order includes 31 trains - 26 electric and five hybrid - for use on commuter and medium-distance services in Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, Galicia, Murcia and Castille, and Leon. The trains will be supplied in both two-car and three-car variants, and will have a maximum speed of 100km/h.

The new trains will reduce the average age of Renfe’s metre-gauge fleet from 28 years currently to around 15 years. The EMUs will be equipped with batteries to support last-mile operation while the hybrid sets will be suitable to conversion to battery or fuel cell operation.

A further six Alpine 1000mm-gauge commuter trains will be used on the 18.2km Madrid C-9 commuter line, which connects the town of Cercedilla with the Port of Cotos. The trains will be equipped to manage the steep gradients of the Guadarrama mountains, through which the line runs.

The contract also includes options for up to six additional electric trains, and one hybrid set.

Under the contract, CAF will also provide maintenance for 18 of the trains, including the six Alpine trains, for a duration of 15 years, in cooperation with Renfe Manufacturing and Maintenance.

The new trains are part of a fleet renewal plan announced by Renfe in 2019, with the aim of improving commuter and mediun-distance services. The trains are expected to improve reliability, energy efficiency, accessibility, and safety on the network.

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