Euskotren orders four new trains to be delivered within two years
Euskotren orders four new trains to be manufactured by CAF and which will be delivered within the coming two years. Thanks to these units, Euskotren will be in a stronger position to extend its regular and special services for sports, cultural and festive events, among others.
Worth nearly €32 million (31,954,528) and with an implementation period of two years, the contract has been awarded to CAF, the company based in Beasáin, to manufacture four new trains, with four carriages and similar characteristics to the 950 Series currently operating on the different lines run by Euskotren. CAF will also supply the necessary rolling stock parts, whose maximum cost will be €8 million, to guarantee the train’s proper maintenance.
The new trains will come into service within two years. Subsequently, they will help to meet the increase in demand from the completion of the work to extend the Topo and the opening of a new section, which includes eliminating the current end-of-line at Amara station and opening three new stations in Donostia/San Sebastian. The work will result in better frequencies and more convenient routes.
The manufacturing of these four trains is part of the process to modernise the rolling stock that Euskotren embarked on in 2011 with the coming into service of the EMUS 900 Series. It has been completed in recent years with the addition of the EMUS 905 Series, which offer certain improvements particularly regarding accessibility.
The four new trains, whose manufacturing has just been ordered, will be very similar to the 950 Series. In fact, one of the goals is to steadily improve the units’ safety and technological features, while offering a feeling of uniformity to the interior and exterior design of the whole fleet.
The main difference will lie in the trains’ capacity as the news ones will have four carriages instead of three. They will therefore be able to hold at least 385 passengers, 30% of whom will be seated.
The rolling stock will also comply with current legislation regarding universal accessibility with the following basic characteristics: colour contrast, spaces reserved for people with functional diversity, light warning at the entrance with automatic ramp, ramps operated from the driving position, sound alarm systems, anti-slip floors…