LATVIA: National passenger operator Pasazieru Vilciens has ordered 34 electric and seven diesel-electric multiple-units from Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF.
The contract signed on April 2 is worth 144m lats, however a 30-year maintenance deal takes the total value to €400m, which according to CAF is the largest rolling stock contract ever awarded in Latvia.
Based on CAF's Civity product platform, the low-floor 1 520 mm gauge trainsets will each be formed of two motor cars and one intermediate trailer, with an overall length of 59·2 m and full-width gangways. The 3 kV DC EMUs will be able to accommodate 270 seated and 190 standing passengers, with the DEMUs offering 300 seats and room for 150 standees. Maximum speed will be 140 km/h.
Deliveries are due to start in mid-2014 for completion by the end of 2015. CAF says that some production will be subcontracted to Riga-based manufacturer RVR, and other local investment resulting from the contract will include the construction and upgrading of rolling stock maintenance facilities.
