Press releases

2023/06/27

RENFE OPTS TO EXTEND THE MEDIUM-DISTANCE TRAIN SUPPLY CONTRACT BY 32 UNITS

The Board of Directors of RENFE has confirmed its decision to make use of the option to extend the amount of medium-distance electric units provided for in the contract which was awarded to CAF at the end of 2022.  

The initial contract, awarded to CAF in October last year, established the initial supply of 28 electric trains to run medium-distance services, together with the supply of their relevant depot parts and train  maintenance services for 15 years. This agreement includes further options to extend the scope in the future. One of these was the production of up to 42 additional trains and it is part of this option that RENFE has now enforced; specifically, 32 electric trains, of which 24 will be 3-car consists and the other 8 trains will be 5-car consists. This extension is worth approximately €190 million. 

The trains to be supplied by CAF will will have similar specifications to those previously ordered - currently in the manufacturing process, with an operating speed of 200 km/h. One of the stand-out features of the unit is its capacity to run short distances autonomously on sections of the network where there is no catenary or when required when a power cut occurs, on account of the batteries the units are equipped with.

CAF's incorporation of this technology on a number of its latest projects is testament of its commitment to developing this zero-emission solution to address passenger transport decarbonisation. The company is working in this area both by developing the vehicles themselves to make them more efficient and lighter, and by improving operation, with a view towards achieving optimum integration between vehicles and infrastructure. 

RENFE has placed its trust in the CAF Group once again, further strengthening the close relationship established between both companies over the past few years. The most recent example of this is the project that was awarded just 3 months ago for the supply of 29 commuter trains which is currently in the engineering stage. It should be stressed how this new agreement brings the company's projects with RENFE over the last three years to a total of more than 1 billion euro. This reaffirms CAF’s opportunity to partner with RENFE for the latter's plan to update a significant portion of its train fleet and to incorporate more efficient and environmentally-friendly units.