NETHERLANDS: National passenger operator NS has awarded CAF a contract to supply 60 partly double-deck electric multiple-units for use on inter-city services, the first order for a double-deck version of the Spanish manufacturer’s Civity family.
The €600m contract signed on December 12 covers the supply of 30 four-car and 30 six-car EMUs, along with technical support for maintenance which is to be carried out by NS itself.
The first of the EMUs are scheduled to enter service by 2028, gradually replacing part of the DDZ fleet.
‘The level entry of the single-deck coaches makes the train more accessible, the double-deck coaches in the middle provide extra seats’, said Roel Okhuijsen, Director of New Rolling Stock at NS.
‘Naturally, the trains will offer our passengers every convenience during their journey, such as charging points, wi-fi and comfortable seats. With a top speed of 160 km/h this train can also travel faster than the current double-deckers, which is important for achieving a shorter travel time.’
There are options for further units, and for versions suitable for cross-border operation into Germany and Belgium.
Civity success
CAF said the latest order demonstrates the success of its Civity family for suburban, regional and inter-city applications, with orders from countries including the UK, Sweden and Italy.
CAF won its first contract with NS in 2014, covering the supply of 118 Sprinter New Generation EMUs for local services. A further 88 SNG EMUs from the manufacturer’s Civity family were ordered in late 2018 and took the total value to close €1bn, making it one of the most significant contracts the company has won in Europe.
CAF said the latest order is in line with its strategic plan for 2026, which commits to the European market where it has significant business volumes and recurring activity, with a strong market position and product portfolio.
