THE first of eight 200km/h diesel trains being supplied by CAF, Spain, under a Euros 105m contract awarded by Saudi Railways Organisation in 2008, has started test running on the Velim test track in the Czech Republic. Testing will continue until the end of the year.
THE first of eight 200km/h diesel trains being supplied by CAF, Spain, under a Euros 105m contract awarded by Saudi Railways Organisation in 2008, has started test running on the Velim test track in the Czech Republic. Testing will continue until the end of the year.

The trains consist of a power car and five coaches with a total length of 152.2m. The vehicles are 3.05m wide and 4.57m high above the top of the rail. The large size of the train made it difficult to transport it from Spain to Velim, and only the final part of the journey from Magdeburg in Germany could be completed by rail.
The power car is equipped with a 3.6MW MTU engine as well as a baggage area. There are two second-class and two first-class coaches, plus a coach fitted with a buffet counter, two spaces for wheelchairs, and a compartment for the conductor. The train also has an area for praying with a TV monitor to show the direction of Mecca.