Recent deals and tenders in the urban rail transport market.
Belarus — TMH has signed a contract to supply three more 5-car metro trains to Minsk. The manufacturer won the tender worth BYN 121.7 mln ($41.6 mln, or an average of $2.8 mln per car). The Minsk 2024 trains are scheduled for delivery by the end of this year. To date, the TMH plant in Mytishchi has supplied 11 trains (48 cars) of this model to Minsk.
India — Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced a tender for the supply of 68 1,676 mm cars for 4- and 8-car trains. The rolling stock must be delivered within three years. The procurement is funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency worth JPY 79.7 bln ($505 mln).
Metro train from Alstom in Dehli. Source: DMRC
Germany — Cologne City Council has approved funding for the purchase of up to 69 new trams. Local operator KVB will receive a shareholder loan totalling up to €364 mln. Initially, 33 trams are planned, with a further 36 in prospect. The tender has not yet been issued, but preliminary procedures began last year. From 2030, the new trams will replace K4500 cars produced in the 2000s by Bombardier Transportation (acquired by Alstom in 2021). Meanwhile, delivery of 64 Citadis X05 trams ordered from Alstom in 2020 for the city has been delayed indefinitely.
Canada — Hyundai Rotem will supply 32 high-platform trams to Edmonton, each worth $6.8 mln. The $220 mln contract with the South Korean manufacturer was awarded following a tender. The three-section trams are due for delivery in 2029–2030. They will operate in consists of up to seven units and replace Siemens-Duewag U2 vehicles from the 1970s–1980s. There is another contract between Hyundai Rotem and the city; this time for 47 trams.
Render of a high-floor tram for Edmonton. Source: Hyundai Rotem
Bulgaria — Sofia has announced several tenders for the supply of 78 trams at a total cost of €193 mln. The procurements will be financed through loans. Additionally, in mid-February, the city municipality published two requests for proposals for another 80 and 50 trams. Unlike the current tenders, these future procurements will include not only rolling stock supply but also infrastructure construction.
Serbia — The tender for 85 trams has been suspended. The reason is 50 complaints from bidders citing excessive technical requirements and an unrealistic 13-month delivery period for most European manufacturers. Previously, Turkish firm Bozankaya won an order for 25 trams in Belgrade, and that competition was also criticised for tight delivery deadlines.
