Metro do Porto has launched a public tender worth 72.6 million euros for the purchase of 22 new vehicles, as well as 10 options that can enable automated driving, the Diário da República (DR) reported today.
According to an announcement published today in DR, a public tender is at stake for the supply and maintenance of rolling stock for the Porto metro network, with a base value of 72.6 million euros, of which 66 million for 22 vehicles and 6.6 million for one of the 10 additional vehicles.
According to the specifications, 18 of the 22 vehicles are planned to be delivered and serviced with the CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control in Portuguese) system, which will eventually allow the vehicles to drive automatically.
The Rubi Line (Casa da Música – Santo Ovidio) is being built using CBTC, a system that will allow the car to be driven on this section without the participation of a driver.
The remaining four vehicles participating in the public tender must be equipped with the ATP (Automatic Train Protection in Portuguese) system.
However, a carrier may also choose to install ATP on 10 vehicles and CBTC on another 10, in which case “two vehicles out of the 22 delivered will accumulate ATP and CBTC installed by the contractor and supplied by the company,” according to the specification.
In this public tender, the factor that has the greatest weight as an award criterion is design (45%), followed by technical value (30%) and finally price (25%).
Competitors must submit proposals by November 13, and after receiving the Audit Chamber’s approval and notification of it, the winner of the tender has one and a half years to deliver the first vehicle from the general order, maintaining a rhythm of three vehicles per month.
The European funds’ Sustainable Development 2030 programme is providing Metro do Porto with 34 million euros to purchase up to 32 new vehicles, with a notice of application to be launched by the end of the year, Lusa said.
Last October, the previous government authorised Metro do Porto to spend up to 82.9 million euros on the acquisition of 22 new trains, as well as 10 additional trains, which included 8.6 million euros for maintenance.
“The acquisition of 22 compositions (…) involves financial execution over more than one financial year, from 2024 to 2026 inclusive, for a maximum amount of EUR 74,242,000.00, an amount subject to value added tax at the legally applicable rate,” can be read in the text published at that time.
According to the Council of Ministers’ decree, the acquisition of new trains is aimed at “guaranteeing the fleet necessary for the operation” of the future Rubí line (Casa da Música – Santo Ovidio), as well as “strengthening the supply in the remaining transport network”.
The 18 vehicles, purchased from China’s CRRC Tangshan, are already in service. Metro do Porto also has 72 Eurotrams and 30 Flexity Swift cars.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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