Auckland Transport has received its first electric train, AM810, from Spanish train builder Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF).
The delivery is a part of the €100m contract that CAF won in November 2017 to supply 15 electric units for the city of Auckland.
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Auckland previously awarded a contract to CAF in 2011 for the supply of 57 electric units and their maintenance for 12 years.
The units comprise three cars, two cabbed-end motor cars and one intermediate trailer car. The trains can accommodate 380 passengers.
Made of stainless steel, each car is equipped with two passenger access doors per side.
They will also have new seat back covers and carpet, as well as quicker doors to decrease the waiting time at stations.
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By GlobalDataAuckland Mayor Phil Goff said that “the NZ$133m investment in new electric trains will help to meet strong growing demand for fast, efficient and reliable public transport across the region.”
He added: “In June we achieved 100 million public transport trips in a year for the first time since the 1950s, and those numbers are continuing to grow – in the 12 months to August patronage increased by 8.7%. Aucklanders want transport choice, and we’re investing at record levels to deliver it.”
The train will be first tested by Auckland Transport and CAF before it commences service.
Auckland Transport expects the remaining trains to reach the city by July next year and will start service in September.
Last month, The Government of New Zealand announced plans to invest NZ$94.8m ($60.9m) to upgrade the North Auckland Line between Swanson and Whangarei in Northland.
