The Belgium’s state-owned rail operator NMBS has placed an initial order for 180 coaches with the Spanish train builder CAF. The conclusion of the order brings to an end a lengthy procurement process that has faced several legal challenges.
Belgian rail company places 1.7-billion-euro order with Spanish train builder CAF
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The tender procedure was originally launched in 2022 but faced legal challenges. The Council of State suspended the decision to purchases the trains in April amid concerns about transparency. It said that NMBS had failed to clearly specify the method used to assess the technical quality of the competing bids.
NMBS then reissued its decision and with a new justification for accepting CAF’s tender, a justification that was in line with the Council of State’s ruling. Rival bidders Siemens and Alstom tried to challenge the selection of the Spanish train builder, but their appeals were definitively rejected by the Council of State in September.
The decision to award the contract to CAF met with discontent from the trade unions that represent workers at Alstom’s plant in Bruges. They feared that it could lead to the Bruges factory’s closure. Last week Alstom announced that it was to cut 150 jobs in Bruges in order to “adapt to the realities of the market and adjust resources accordingly".
54,000 seats
The order covers 180 coaches, providing around 54,000 seats. The order forms part of a broader framework agreement that was formally awarded to to CAF on Friday. The deal allows NMBS to order rolling stock with a capacity of up to 170,000 seats over time.
NMBS says that the news carriages will offer improved passenger comfort, including step-free access for people with reduced mobility, quiet zones, passenger information screens, onboard connectivity and sufficient space for bicycles. The order also includes a battery-powered variant of the train that is expected in the longer term to replace existing diesel-powered trains.
The first trains are expected to enter service in 2030.