The Belgian National Railways Council (SNCB) issued a statement on July 23, confirming the choice of CAF as a preferred bidding for a 12 -year frame to provide up to 600 EMUS, estimated at 3.4 billion euros.
The frame includes an initial order for 180 trains that provide 54,000 seats, which is up to 1.7 billion euros, according to CAF.
CAF was initially chosen as a preferred presenter by the Board of Directors on February 28, but this was subsequently suspended by the State Council after objections from Alstom and Siemens.
According to local media reports, Alstom complained that the way SNCB is using to assess the artistic component of the perfumes was not clear, although it was also reported that the three final bids were similar.
The choice of the Spanish manufacturer CAF, so far without a firm presence in Belgium, was very controversial in a political point of view. Alstom is employing more than 2000 employees in its factory in Belgium.
In his statement, the SNCB Council says it took into account the rule of the State Council, noting that all three offers of offers mentioned the benefit of local suppliers in their offers. CAF now calls for more details.
The Board of Directors also directed the SNCB administration, in its discussions with the preferred bidder with the aim of granting the contract, to request confirmation from CAF that “its activities respect international law and human rights.”
The Board of Directors indicates that the public service contract in SNCB 2023-2032 with the Belgian government states that 50 % of the National Operator fleet must be renewed during this period. In addition to absorbing the expected growth in passenger traffic, the new trains will also improve the comfort of passengers, replacing the arrows circulating of aging vulnerable to failure with more flexible trains that consume less energy.
The new fleet will be fully available for low -travel passengers. Under the frame, the SNCB will also ask the Bemu variable to replace its fleet in the AR41 DMUS category.
The new EMUS is set as the AM30 category by SNCB, and will be published on the inter -services, regional and suburban services, to replace four AM75 cars, three AM80 cars, and three AMUS cars. CAF presented the CIFITY DUO design, combining one -dish cars with dual -range cars.
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