Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Railways, Transport

At the beginning of 2016, the following companies will be invited to participate in talks on supplying new electric trains for Pasazieru vilciens: Spanish company Patentes Talgo S.L (Talgo), Swiss company Stadler subsidiary in Poland – Stadler Polska Sp. z o.o. (Stadler), Siemens AG and Sinara Group's joint venture in Russia Uralskie lokomotivi, Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF), and Czech company Skoda vagonka a.s..

The companies will have 75 days to submit their tenders.

"The fact that all companies that participated in the first round of the procurement have been shortlisted for the second round shows once again that we have chosen the best format of negotiations, which will ensure competition and give us opportunity to choose the best bid," stressed Pasazieru vilciens CEO Andris Lubans.

The main criteria for the first round of talks with prospective suppliers included prior experience of operations on the European Union market, financial stability, and whether they met Pasazieru vilciens technical requirements.

As reported, the five above companies applied for the first round of a new electric train procurement tender announced by Pasazieru vilciens.

"The tender procedure was organized with the aim to reach out to as many candidates as possible, with expectations that this will allow us to receive a decent offer for the best price. The industry's interest in the tender has been the highest of all time in Latvia with regard to procurements of this level. This shows that we have chosen a proper form of tender, which facilitates competition and will ensure more beneficial requirements for procurement of new trains in the future," Lubans commented.

Pasazieru vilciens is planning to buy 32 new suburban passenger electric trains, equipment for their maintenance, and spare parts. The bidders are also to organize personnel training and supply documents necessary for train maintenance.

A 36-month contract will be signed with the winning bidder.