CAF has signed a framework agreement with Malaysian construction firm Gamuda Berhad for the supply of up to 23 Urbos trams to serve the Xidong and Keelung lines in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Operated by the Rapid Transit Systems Department, the project also includes the provision of spare parts, depot equipment, and a driver training simulator. If all options within the agreement are exercised, the contract’s total value could approach EUR 200 million.
This marks CAF’s second project in Taiwan, following its delivery of the world’s first fully catenary-free tram line in Kaohsiung. That system uses innovative onboard energy storage technology, enabling wire-free operation by recharging trams at each stop.
In this latest initiative, Gamuda will lead the integrated project delivery. The agreement represents a significant step for CAF in the Taiwanese market, nearly two decades after its initial entry, and reflects the combined technical and industrial strengths of both companies. It also reinforces the confidence placed in them by Taiwanese authorities to deliver complex, high-value mobility infrastructure.
New Taipei City, with a population approaching four million, is the largest municipality in Taiwan. The tram procurement is part of a broader metropolitan infrastructure drive aimed at addressing growing demand for rail-based transport in the area. The first phase, the Xizhi-Donghu (Xidong) Line, will be an elevated six-kilometre route comprising six stations and a dedicated depot. The contract includes rolling stock supply and all necessary operational systems.
CAF will provide trams from its Urbos platform, configured as nine-module units constructed in aluminium and exceeding 55 metres in length. Each vehicle will be capable of accommodating up to 615 passengers and will be fully accessible for those with reduced mobility. The design incorporates advanced technologies tailored to the region’s climatic conditions and population density, ensuring operational reliability and passenger comfort in a high-demand urban environment.
New Taipei City now joins a portfolio of over 50 cities worldwide where CAF vehicles are in operation. These include Stockholm, Liège, Sydney, Luxembourg, Birmingham, Mauritius, Houston, Budapest, Oslo, Lisbon, Boston, Zaragoza, and Seville, among others.
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