Bucharest Municipality develops new trams

Following the decision made in January 2010 to develop the Imperio tram in Arad, Astra Vagoane Arad and Siemens have adopted a strategic decision to expand their activity. To that end, in February 2011, the two companies, together with RATB (Bucharest Surface Transport Operator) signed a partnership for the manufacture of the 100% low-floor Imperio tram. The project is highly controversial, seeing as Bucharest Municipality will investigate the contract signed between the three companies.

The first steps for the implementation of this project were taken in October 2010, with the aim of consolidating a new collaboration.
In order to establish a partnership, RATB had several talks with various railway manufacturers. However, none of the companies showed any interest in this project. The only companies that were interested in developing a partnership were Astra Arad and Siemens. “We took the first steps in this direction last year, in order to develop a partnership. At InnoTrans, several manufacturers were interested in this project, companies such as Alstom, Stadler and Solaris, but no concrete measures were taken. Siemens and Astra Arad proposed this collaboration for the manufacture of the Imperio tram. Siemens will bring the technology, Astra the funds and RATB will bring the necessary space and staff”, said Adrian Criţ, General Manager RATB.
As a basis for this project, the three companies signed a 10-year frame agreement. During this period, the level of investments should be recovered (according to estimates). The manufacture of the trams will require investments of millions of euros for the modernisation of URAC (Uzina de Reparaţii Atelierele Centrale) – the production facilities owned by RATB. The project also stipulates the retechnologization of the tram production line, the design of the prototype, the manufacture of series 0, the mass production, the provision of maintenance services so that URAC can be aligned to the necessary standards.
For the implementation of the project, RATB will provide the work force and the necessary space for the manufacture of the trams. Astra Vagoane will provide the investments necessary for the modernisation of the facilities and the retechnologization of the production line. Siemens will provide some of the necessary parts and the technology, which will be of Western  quality, 100% low-floor and A/C and it will cost around EUR 2 Million, as opposed to EUR 2.5 Million – the normal cost of this type of public transport vehicle. The tram will be modular, with 2 to 6 cars, designed based on the customer requirements. A four-car tram will be able to carry 300 passengers.
The Imperio prototype will be finalized in October and the first four-five trams will be finalized by the end of this year. “We need to have the necessary willpower in order to manufacture a modern tram and a modern facility. This tram will operate both on the domestic and the international market. In six months’ time, we will finalize the modernisation of the production facilities, as well as the first prototype. The production capacity is of 30-40 trams/year and the value of one tram will be of EUR 2 Million. As for the acquisition, we are not certain if the Romanian companies will have the necessary financial means. What is certain is that the price of a tram will be 30% lower than the average price”, said Valer Blidar, CEO Astra Arad.
The manufacture of the Imperio tram in Bucharest is part of Astra’s development strategy. The company signed another contract with the authorities in Arad in order to manufacture the Imperio tram in Arad. “The fact that we signed an agreement with RATB represents one step forward in the development of our activity. The project signed in Arad will not be transferred to Bucharest. There will be two locations”, added Blidar. In order to improve the existing rolling stock fleet at national level, Romania needs 1,500-2,000 trams.
In order to finalize the entire project, the Bucharest General Council (CGMB) has to approve this agreement. Sorin Oprescu, recent mayor of Bucharest, appointed a committee made up of experts in the field of transport, finance and legislation to investigate the contract signed between the three companies.
When contacted by Railway Pro, Ion Dedu, Executive Director of the Directorate for Transport, Roads and Traffic
Management, said that this partnership was not transparent and that the investigation will be initiated as soon as possible.

by Pamela Luică


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