Moroccan Railways (ONCF) has awarded Italy’s Ansaldobreda, a subsidiary of the Finmeccanica Company, an order for the supply of 18 double deck Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) trains, with an option for six more.
The base order is worth a total €143 million, and could rise to a possible €190 million if all options are realized. Service is planned to begin in 2006.
This is the first time ONCF has purchased double deck trains. The new EMU’s will be used for the Casablanca, Rabat and Fez lines as part of a company program to modernize the rolling stock fleet, stated a press release.
The new trains have an operating speed to 160 kilometers per hour (km/h), a first class compartment, a closed-circuit toilet in each car and a high capacity air conditioning system. Each car will have a carrying capacity of 413 seated passengers and 52 in first class.
Ansaldobreda is the Finmeccanica Transport sector company which produces rail vehicles for mass transit applications. The company was created by the merger of Ansaldo Trasporti with mechanical builder Breda Costruzione. The company is headquartered ub Naples and Pistoia. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
