CRRC is to supply 18 New Vehicles to Metro do Porto

49,6 M€ investment step up current fleet and improves service

Metro do Porto Management Board has approved the Evaluation Final Report issued by the Jury for the International Public Tender, endorsing the proposal submitted by CRRC Tangshan. The approval of the Jury Evaluation Final Report enables the delivery of 18 new vehicles for 49,6 million Euro.
The new vehicles will be able to operate within several lines complying with all operational and safety standards. Each vehicle will be able to carry 252 passengers from which 64 are seated. The vehicles will have 2 driving cabs and will be bi-directional as per current vehicles, reaching a top speed of 80km/h. With this investment, Metro do Porto fleet will ramp up to 120 vehicles – 72 Bombardier Eurotram, 30 Bombardier Tram-Train and 18 CRRC Low Floor Trams.

Recall is suggest to consider that, in last April this year, three manufacturers candidates have bidded within the International Public Tender framework for the acquisition of 18 new vehicles having Metro do Porto launched this tender less than one year ago in 21st December 2018. These manufacturers have been CRRC Tangshan, Siemens Mobility and Škoda Transportation. The tender process has the reference price value of 56,1 million euro which not only includes the delivery of vehicles as it includes the maintenance over a 5 years time frame. Metro do Porto achieves and 6,5 million euro saving with respect to the initial expected investment.

The submitted proposals by the candidates have been evaluated based on price criteria, technical characteristics and design features (including this criteria capabilities such as passenger capacity, comfort and accessibility). The delivery of new vehicles is expected to be held between 2021 and 2023 and a pace of one vehicle each month. The number of passengers serviced by Metro do Porto has consistently shown a clear and sustained growth over the last months and it is aimed to set off in service new vehicles during the 2nd semester of 2021 once these are comprehensively tested in accordance with the stringent and demanding requirements imposed by Metro do Porto.

Concurrently, the increase of the number of vehicles in service within Metro do Porto network is due to the expansion of the network namely through the construction of a brand-new line – connecting São Bento train station to Casa da Música, and extension southwards of Yellow Line from Santo Ovídeo to Vila d’Este located in Vila Nova de Gaia. The construction of this new lines and Yellow Line expansion are about to start and will roll on until 2023, adding 6km and 7 stations to be actual network for an investment of about 300 million euro.

Metro do Porto operates a 6 lines network within 7 counties covering 67 km and 82 stations, showing a passenger rate use of 62 million passengers in 2018. Considering the increasing rate trend of above 13%, it is forecasted and total of 70 million passengers carried.