Renfe, the Spanish national railway operator, has awarded the ALSTOM/CAF consortium a contract for the supply and the complete maintenance of 20 Regional High-Speed Trains. These trains, which will have a speed of 250–270km/h, will circulate on the Spanish High-Speed lines. The new contract is worth a total of EUR 440 million, including maintenance of the new fleet over 14 years. ALSTOM, as the consortium leader, will be responsible for providing the traction system and 50% of the mechanical equipment for these high-speed regional trains. The new trains, which can carry up to 237 passengers, will cover distances of up to 250km between major cities. Delivery of the first trains will begin in 2003. Trains will begin operational regional service in the same year. The trains will be largely built in ALSTOM’s industrial units in Spain.
