PORTUGUESE Trains (CP) has confirmed an Alstom-led consortium as the winner of a tender to supply 117 EMUs, the largest single fleet order in the national operator’s history.
The order comprises 55 EMUs for regional services and 62 trains for suburban services. Of the 62 suburban EMUs, 34 are for the Cascais Line in Lisbon where they will replace 29 existing trains; 16 EMUs will strengthen the remaining Sintra, Azambuja and Sado Lisbon Metropolitan Area lines; and 12 EMUs will be added to Porto’s suburban fleet.
The winning consortium comprises Alstom, Alstom Transport Portugal (formerly Bombardier Portugal), and local firm Domingos da Silva Teixeira Group.
According to the terms of the tender, which was announced in 2021, the first trains are due to be delivered in 2026, with the entire fleet in operation by 2029. The tender also estimated the procurement cost at €819m although details of Alstom’s precise bid have yet to be confirmed.
“The addition of these new trains to the CP fleet represents a significant step forward in improving the efficiency, comfort and frequency of our services, making a decisive contribution to sustainable mobility and reducing the ecological footprint of national transport,” CP said in a statement. “CP also reaffirms its role as a leader in promoting efficient and ecologically responsible land transport for Portugal's socio-economic development.”
Alstom confirmed to IRJ that it submitted the best offer to CP for the contract, which is fully compliant with all the conditions requested in the tender specifications. This includes a commitment to local and industrial development of the fleets.
"Alstom’s commitment to Portugal is absolute," Alstom said in a statement. "We will deliver trains for Portugal built in Portugal, trains that Portuguese citizens will proudly say are their own."
The Alstom consortium overcame competing bids from a CAF-led consortium, a consortium of Talgo and Siemens Mobility, CRRC Tangshan, Hitachi Rail and Stadler Rail.
Stadler won a contract to supply 22 Flirt multiple-units for use on regional networks under a €158m contract signed with CP in October 2020. This order comprises 10 63.2m-long EMUs and 12 74.4m-long electro-diesel bi-mode trains.
However, failure to land the contract for 117 EMUs appears to have curtailed the Swiss supplier’s plan to build a manufacturing plant in Portugal in partnership with local bus manufacturer, Salvador Caetano.
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