HKL- the Metro Operator in Helsinki - and the Spanish manufacturer of rolling stock Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. i.e. CAF) signed a contract on the procurement of 20 new metro trains on Wednesday 6th of February.
HKL’s Executive Board chose CAF as the supplier of the new metro trains of Helsinki in October. CAF’s tender was the most affordable in terms of overall economy as the acquisition price and the commercial terms, operating and maintenance costs, level of the train technology, design and innovativeness as well as co-operation capabilities and the reliability of deliveries were taken in the account in the evaluation.
After signing the contract the procurement project of metro trains will continue by drawing up more detailed technical designs. Also a life-size mock-up will be made of the new metro train that enables the assessment of the structural details of the new trains with different user groups.
The total length of the new trains is 90 metres, corresponding to the train units currently in use at off-peak hours and with a passenger capacity of 576.
The train is accessible in its entirety from one end to the other, making it easy to move between cars during the journey. In terms of their visual appearance, the trains will resemble the M200 series, the exterior and seat colour being orange also in future.
The trains will at first be equipped with a temporary driver’s cab, necessary in the transitional stage towards the automation of the metro traffic control system. Once the automation is completed, the temporary cabin will be dismantled and the space converted for passenger use.
CAF is one of the major manufacturers of metro vehicles in the world. In recent years CAF has delivered metro trains for example to Madrid, Rome, Washington, Barcelona and Brussels.
The new metro train fleet is required for the West Metro. The delivery schedule of the new trains is planned so that the operation of West Metro can be started according to the schedule. The first train will arrive in Helsinki for test runs in the turn of January-February 2015. In total 15 trains will be delivered by the end of the year 2015 and they are needed for starting of the operation of West Metro. The remaining trains will be delivered in spring 2016.
In addition, the procurement is part of the preparation for the potential extension of the West Metro from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti. The procurement also covers the opportunity to exercise the second option, should the so-called East Metro to Sipoo be realised sooner than expected.
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