ILSA, Spain’s leading private high-speed rail operator, awarded Hitachi Rail España a EUR 737 million contract for the maintenance of the high-speed train fleet covering a 30-year period, until 2052.
Hitachi will maintain 20 new ETR 1000 trains at Madrid facility and will perform predictive and corrective activities to ensure the highest levels of reliability, safety and comfort for passengers.
ILSA will begin its operations in the second half of 2022, and will connect Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga and Cordoba with a fleet whose operating efficiency is unmatched thanks to its state-of-the-art aerodynamics, its use of energy-saving technologies and its high performance.
“The agreement is a new step forward in the development of the first private high-speed operator in Spain and proves the company’s commitment with the highest standards both in terms of operations and passenger comfort. This contract further proves ILSA’s commitment to connectivity, industrial development and job creation in Spain,” Carlos Bertomeu, President of ILSA, said.
The high-speed trains, manufactured in Italy, is made up of 85% recyclable materials and 95% renewable materials. These eco-design principles contribute to ILSA’s commitment to have the most sustainable fleet, and to Hitachi Rail’s decarbonisation strategy to reduce its carbon emissions for customers.
In 2020, ILSA awarded Hitachi Rail and Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom) a EUR 797 million contract for the delivery of 23 ETR 1000 trains. The first train is already in Spain conducting homologation tests while the second and third units are on their way to Madrid and scheduled to arrive before the end of 2021. They are being manufactured by Hitachi Rail and Alstom at Hitachi Rail’s factory in Pistoia, Italy.
Each train has a length of 200 metres, a capacity for 460 passengers and is capable of reaching commercial speeds of up to 360 km/h. They also have a high level of on-board comfort, with more spacious seats, 5G Wi-Fi and a bar area. The ETR 1000 trains have been operating in Italy since 2015, and have set a new standard for performance, operational efficiency and passenger comfort.
In addition to the high-speed train fleet maintenance, Hitachi Rail España is responsible for the maintenance of 53 Madrid metro trains and for the maintenance of the high-speed line infrastructure from Madrid to Lerida.
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