REQUESTS for prequalification for two major rolling stock orders were issued by Tehran Urban & Suburban Railway Co at the end of January, with initial responses required by February 19.

TUSRC is seeking an extra 455 cars for use on metro Lines 1 and 2, formed into 65 seven-car trainsets. To expand capacity on the suburban Line 5, the company hopes to buy 160 double-deck coaches and 38 electric locos, which would run in 16 push-pull trainsets with locos at each end.

Both contracts are envisaged as design, manufacture and technology transfer agreements requiring international suppliers to work with local partners. Wagon Pars is already working with Chinese companies, and a prototype seven-car metro trainset for testing in Tehran was unveiled on February 18; the firm expects to complete 77 vehicles by March 2007. TUSRC is currently putting into service the last of 300 air-conditioned cars ordered from China in 2004, which will form 43 extra trains for Lines 1 and 2.

Opening a new metro workshop last year (RG 8.05 p468), TUSRC Managing Director Mohsen Hashemi said he hoped it would be possible to assemble cars at the depot.

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