(24/04/2012)  The total of the operation exceeds 400 million euros and includes the maintenance of the vehicles for 30 years, as well as the construction of new facilities and the modernisation of the already existing ones in order to perform controlled maintenance tasks. The contract is within the framework of the Latvian government’s project to modernise railway infrastructure and services.

Vehicles

The trains are based on CAF's Civity platform for suburban and medium distance trains, and are equipped with state-of-the-art technology in terms of energy consumption, environmental protection and safety equipment.

The first units are scheduled to be delivered by mid 2014, with completion required during 2015. Some of these trains shall be produced in Latvia, where CAF will subcontract out part of the production to the local manufacturer RVR (Rîgas Vagonbûves Rûpnîca).

The contract includes electric traction trains to run at 3000 Vdc and electric diesel traction trains. Both types are fitted with a Russian gauge and consist of 3 low floor cars, with the two end cars being motor cars and the intermediate one a trailer car.

Each electric unit has capacity for 270 seated passengers and 190 standing passengers (300 and 150 respectively on diesel units) arranged along its length of 59.2 m, with an unobstructed passage along the train.

The trains are designed to run in extreme cold weather conditions and will be able to reach speeds of up to 140 km/h. These will be the first CAF's Civity platform trains with a Russian gauge.