Another 135 new commuter trains. This time we are talking about diesel trains, to also travel on non-electrified lines with the same levels of comfort as the new electric trains already commissioned. This is what Trenitalia asked of all the players in the international railway industry by launching a new call for tenders on 16 May aimed at stipulating a Framework Agreement for the delivery of two types of trains, with 200 and 300 seats diesel-powered.
Along with the supply, a 15-year maintenance service was also requested, with an option for a further ten years. All for a value exceeding one and a half billion euros. Which is added to the approximately 4 billion for the supply by Hitachi Rail and Alstom of 450 electric trains. "We focus a lot on quality, and with this tender we are urging manufacturing companies to compete to express it, with technical proposals that our passengers can appreciate tomorrow," said Trenitalia CEO Barbara Morgante.
What to expect from the new call?
“First of all, that the excellent performance required of the market produces offers comparable to the extremely high ones we have obtained for electric trains”.
The changes compared to last year's race?
“The total lot has almost tripled. The real news, however, is that this time there is a guaranteed number of 70 trains, even higher than the previous batch, in which 50 were requested without any guaranteed minimum. And then, 30 of them will even be ordered at the same time as the signing of the agreement”.
And why this news?
“Because by continuing the process of improving our industrial performance, I'm talking about punctuality, regularity, train cleaning, security and information, we have earned the trust of customers. Therefore, many Regions are turning to us as a manager to whom to entrust the new contracts directly. There is thus more clarity on what the actual needs are in terms of new trains”.
What is the roadmap now?
“There is a first phase that ends on July 5th in which companies will be able to communicate their interest in participating. We will submit the applications to a selection process and send a letter with the specifications and elements for the definitive offer, which must be presented by 11 December. At that point, a careful evaluation of the offers begins which will lead first to the award and then, according to a timeline dictated by the law, to the assignment and signing of the agreement. Without a hitch we will be able to repeat the excellent times of the other tender, about a year in all”.
And from when will commuters benefit from the new trains?
“The goal is to obtain the first deliveries starting from 2020. Sicily, Tuscany and Sardinia will begin to use them”.
Taken from the site FS News.
