City of Tampere selects Transtech to supply low-floor LRVs

The Finnish city of Tampere has named Transtech Oy, a subsidiary company of Skoda Transportation, as preferred bidder to supply and maintain 15-20 trams for its new tram line project.

The contract includes the supply of 15-20 ForCity Smart Artic low-floor light rail vehicles (LRVs) and a ten-year maintenance agreement. There is also an option for an additional 46 trams with a possible 30-year maintenance extension. The value of the contract is estimated at between €3.2m and €3.8m depending on the final vehicle quantity.

Transtech to deliver and maintain ForCity Smart Artic LRVs for Tampere

“We are very pleased that we will deliver our modern vehicles from family ForCity to another foreign city.

Commenting on the agreement, Zdeněk Majer, Vice president of Škoda Transportation Group and Chairman of Transtech Oy, said: “Winning the tender for trams in Finland is proof that last year’s investment by acquiring a controlling stake in the Finnish company Transtech can be evaluated positively. Škoda Transportation is successfully continuing its strategy of establishing itself in the western markets.”

The 37m-long ForCity Smart Artic LRVs will be manufactured at the Transtech company plant in Finland.

In 2014, forty of these low floor vehicles were ordered by the Helsinki City Transport Company. The first thirteen trams are currently in operation in Helsinki following successful trails during two demanding winters.

The final contract signing is expected once approval is given by the city council of Tampere which meets on 24 October 2016.