Contract awarded for New Taipei City in Taiwan

At the beginning of this month, CAF entered into a framework agreement with the prestigious Malaysian construction company (Gamuda Berhad) to supply up to 23 Urbos trams. These will operate on the Xidong and Keelung lines in New Taipei, which are operated by its transport agency Rapid Transit Systems Department. The contract also covers the supply of spare parts, depot equipment and a driving simulator. Taking all options into consideration, the framework contract could be worth circa €200 million.

This is CAF's second project in Taiwan, following the completion of an integrated project for the city of Kaohsiung's tram line in the south of the country–the world's first to be completely catenary-free. Innovative on-board energy storage technology enables catenary-free operation by charging the trams while they are at a standstill at stops on route.

Under this new contract, the integrated project will be led by construction company Gamuda, marking CAF’s second major milestone in the Taiwanese market since entering it two decades ago. This award highlights the technological and industrial capabilities of CAF and the Malaysian construction group, demonstrating their ability to undertake highly demanding transport projects and consolidating their track record. It also reinforces the trust placed in them by the Taiwanese authorities based on their proven experience and proficiency in execution.

With almost 4 million inhabitants, New Taipei City is the largest municipality in Taiwan. The project is part of a major infrastructure initiative currently underway in the New Taipei metropolitan area, which aims to meet the area's growing demand for rail transport. Specifically, the first Xizhi-Donghu (Xidong) line will span approximately six kilometres and will be fully elevated. The line will feature 6 stations and a unit depot, and the contract will include the supply of rolling stock and the systems required for operation.

CAF will supply Urbos platform vehicles consisting of 9 aluminium modules, each measuring over 55 metres in length. Each will have a maximum passenger capacity of up to 615 passengers per unit and will be fully accessible for people with reduced mobility. It should also be noted that these units will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology tailored to this type of vehicle and the specific weather conditions of the region while also meeting the demands of the system in New Taipei's metropolitan area, which has a high population density.

This award further emphasises CAF's position as a leading provider of urban transport solutions, particularly for trams. The Asian city is now one of more than 50 cities where CAF units are already in operation, alongside Stockholm, Liège, Sydney, Luxembourg, Birmingham, Mauritius, Houston, Budapest, Oslo, Lisbon, Boston, Zaragoza and Seville.

www.cafmobility.com