CAF battles Stadler in the United Kingdom and appeals the award of a 650 million contract
Construction and Auxiliary of Railways (CAF) is trying to ‘save’ an important train supply contract that the Irish authorities Irish Rail and Northern Ireland Railways have awarded to the Swiss company Stadler. As confirmed to this medium by sources from the manufacturer based in Beasain (Guipúzcoa), The company has filed an appeal to challenge the decision that has prevented him from adding an assignment to his portfolio valued at 650 million euros.
The tender, launched at the end of 2023, covers a new fleet of eight trains to replace the fleet of diesel coaches currently operating the Enterprise cross-border service Enterprise between Dublin and Belfast. In addition, the acquisition process also includes a maintenance contract that groups technical support services and the supply of spare parts for a period of up to 15 years.
Following the communication policy for these ongoing processes, the sources consulted They do not reveal the reason for the appeal presented by the Spanish builder. From Ireland, a local spokesperson for Irish Rail – the Irish Renfe – informs the local newspaper Irish Independent that the bidders have already “notified the outcome of the corporate rail fleet acquisition process” as well as that the authorities “have received a challenge, which the organizations are addressing through the legal process.”
The same spokesperson assures that the authorities have selected the most appropriate supplier to replace the fleet “with a new generation of modern and sustainable trains, after a robust and competitive procurement process“. It so happens that the renewal of this fleet plays a key role in the expansion of Irish Rail, which was already hampered by battery problems that have delayed the introduction of new hybrid trains.
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