The Community of Madrid has announced that in 2019 will launch a tender process to purchase 60 new trains estimated at EUR 700 million. The new trains will replace 32 older trains and 28 of the new ones will boost transport capacity.
The acquisition of new trains is needed as the company estimates that the ridership will increase to 687 million passengers by the end of 2018. This year, daily ridership increased by more than 100,000 passengers.
In addition, the authorities begun negotiations with trade unions to increase the workforce. It is planned to hire new drivers.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (INE), between May and July the number of passengers which used the metro services increased by 12.8%, compared to a 11.6% decline in municipal bus network.
“More and more locals choose metro services to make their trips quickly, comfortably and safely. In 2019 a bidding process will be announced for the acquisition of 60 new trains, of which 32 will replace the older vehicles and 28 trains will boost transport capacity on the network,” Rosalía Gonzalo, Secretary for Transport, Housing and Infrastructures, said.
To answer mobility needs and to improve transport safety, Metro de Madrid is also carrying out infrastructure modernisation. EUR 400 million investment is needed for metro’s modernisation projects, of which EUR 200 million is supported by the EIB.
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