IN A BID to introduce new rolling stock without incurring further debt, while opening up the railway to market forces in a controlled manner, Spanish National Railways has decided to form ’train service provision’ ventures with manufacturers. A joint venture would lease vehicles from its parent manufacturer and operate them in return for fixed payments from Renfe, with any profits or losses shared equally between the partners.
Put out to tender, service provision contracts will run for a maximum of 14 years. Hoping to renew the fleets of its Long Distance, Regional and Suburban business units, Renfe expects that transferring financial risk to the manufacturer will result in total payments some 40% lower than existing costs. Trains will be maintained in Renfe workshops, but at market rates.
- CAF and Adtranz have delivered the first of 16 TRD two-car DMUs for Renfe’s Regional business unit, ordered for the Vigo - A Coruña, Sevilla/M
