The CAF Civity is a family of regional passenger trains which is manufactured by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. Available as both diesel, electric and battery-electric multiple unit, the Civity was first launched in 2010 and received its first order two years later.

CAF Civity
ManufacturerCAF
Built atIrun
Beasain
Zaragoza
Newport
Constructed2012–present
Number under construction261 units on order
Number built251 units
Formation2 to 8 cars per unit
Specifications
Train length43–160 m (141 ft 1 in – 524 ft 11 in)
Car length21.5 m (70 ft 6 in) (M)
16.2 m (53 ft 2 in) (T)
20 m (65 ft 7 in) (PH)
Width2.88–2.95 m (9 ft 5 in – 9 ft 8 in)
Height4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)
Floor height600 mm (23.6 in)–1,150 mm (45.3 in)
Maximum speed75–125 mph (120–200 km/h)
Weightc. 100 t (98.4 long tons; 110.2 short tons)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

As of 2023, 251 Civity units have been constructed, with a further 261 on order. The United Kingdom is the largest customer of the platform with a total of 216 units ordered.

Description

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The Civity is a modular platform available in four variants, which are diesel, diesel-electric, electric and bi/dual mode. Most variants of the Civity platform, with the exception of the Civity UK and NSW, have shared bogies and a low floor.[1]

Diesel

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As of 2024, the diesel variant has only been ordered by operators in the United Kingdom (Northern, West Midlands Trains and Transport for Wales), with these units being constructed in either two, three or four-car formations. These trains will be fitted with MTU powerplants which produce 523 horsepower (390 kW) per engine (one engine per car), which will give them a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).

Electric

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The electric variant is capable of operating on 1500 V or 3000 V DC power supplies with a pick-up shoe or 15 kV or 25 kV AC power supplies with a pantograph. It has so far been ordered in either three, four or five car formations, with these being capable of speeds between 75–125 mph (120–200 km/h).

Operations

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Australia

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In February 2019, Transport for NSW signed a contract with Momentum Trains PPP to supply 117 Civity bi mode (diesel and electric supply) carriages, a new maintenance centre in Dubbo and a maintenance contract as part of the Regional Rail Project.[2] The new trains, referred to as the R sets, will replace the XPT (19 power cars and 60 carriages), Xplorer (23 carriages) and Endeavour (28 carriages) trains. The 117 new carriages will make up 10 diesel-electric trainsets for use on long-distance services linking Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, plus nine short and 10 long multiple-units for regional routes, a total of 29 trains.[3][4] The trains have been heavily delayed and now due to commence in service in 2025. [5]

Germany

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In June 2021, the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) and the Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL) announced that CAF, using its Civity platform, had been selected to build and maintain for 30 years, 63 battery electric multiple units (48 long and 15 short version) for the Niederrhein-Münsterland regional train network, comprising the RE10, RB37 (lot 1), RE14, RE44, RB31, RB36, RB41 and RB43 (lot 2) train services in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The fleet will be owned by the VRR and NWL and will be made available to DB Regio (lot 1) and the other train operating company that has yet to be selected (lot 2). The operations on the individual services are due to start between December 2025 and 2028.[6] In 2022, the Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe ordered an additional 10 long units for operation on the RB68 (Münster – Sendenhorst) and RB76 (Verl – Gütersloh – Harsewinkel) services from December 2025.[7]

Italy

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In 2010, the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia placed an order with CAF for eight ETR 563 five-car units for Trenitalia. Four more units were subsequently ordered, with these units capable of operating services into Slovenia and Austria, with these being designated as ETR 564 units. The units were delayed into service as they could not be approved.[8]

Five four-car ETR 452 trains have been built for Ferrotramviaria, a regional train operator in Bari, Apulia. They have been in use since 2014 and 2015.[9]

Mexico

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The El Insurgente commuter rail service between Mexico City and Toluca uses electric multiple units combining the Civity and the earlier Civia designs.[10][11]

Montenegro

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Three Class 6111 three-car EMUs were delivered to Željeznički prevoz Crne Gore (ŽPCG), the national railway company of Montenegro, specifically to serve the Podgorica-Nikšić railway, cutting travel time to 50 minutes. The first of the new trains started with service on 13 July 2013.[12][13]

Netherlands

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Concept image of Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie [nl] for Nederlandse Spoorwegen

In 2014, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) placed a €510 million order for 118 Civity sets. These new trains, which will consist of three and four car formations, will replace the NS SGMm sets. The train is known as the Sprinter New Generation (SNG) by the NS. The trains will be delivered from 2018 and can operate at 160 km/h (100 mph).[14] A mock-up of an SNG was presented in September 2015, featuring sockets, recycling bins and a toilet.[15] An additional 88 sets were ordered in December 2018, with deliveries expected to continue through 2023.[16]

In 2024 Qbuzz placed an order for 10 three car Civity sets. These sets will replace 2 Stadler GTW 2/6 and 8 GTW 2/8 trainsets delivered in 2008-2011. The new trainsets will be in service by the end of 2027 and can operate at 160 km/h (100 mph). The replacement is part because of implementation of ERTMS and part because of having more doors and toilets.

In 2022 CAF won the Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie [nl] tender for NS with Civity Duo, the first double decker of the Civity platform. The contract consists of 60 double decker train sets with 4 or 6 coaches, with an option to expand the contract to 80,000 seats.[17]

Spain

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In 2022, Renfe Viajeros placed an initial order for 28 EMUs for regional services with options for 42 additional trains,[18] with an investment of €290 million. The next year, CAF received an extension for 32 more trains, extending the order to 60 trains.[19] Those EMU will have a maximum speed of 200 km/h (125 mph), and will have three- and five-car versions.

Sweden

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The public transport agencies of Jönköpings län, Kronobergs län and Kalmar län have made a joint order for 20 electric units (EMU) and 8 units that can be powered either by an external electricity supply or by using the onboard diesel engine (BMU). The contract also contain an option for another 19 EMUs and 7 BMUs through the leasing company Transitio.[20] The trains will be of Civity Nordic version, designed for operation at temperatures of between −40 and 40 °C (−40 and 104 °F) and are set to arrive 2024–27 and will replace the X11s, X14s, Itinos and Y2s currently running in the regions. The maximum speed of EMUs will be 200 km/h (125 mph), that of the BMUs will be 200 km/h (125 mph) in electric mode and 140 km/h (90 mph) in diesel mode.[21][22]

United Kingdom

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Northern Trains

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In January 2016, Arriva Rail North placed an order for 98 (later increased to 101)[23] units, with the majority of these trains due to operate on the company's Northern Connect regional express services[24] (now under operator Northern Trains). The order breakdown is for 58 (originally 55) Class 195 diesel multiple units (two and three-car) and 43 Class 331 electric multiple units (three and four-car). All of these trains were planned to gradually enter service throughout 2019.

In early 2018, it was revealed that there is an option for an undisclosed number of additional carriages.[25] There is also a provision available to extend the four car Class 331 units to five carriages in the future.[26]

The extra three Class 195 units were ordered in November 2018.[23]

TransPennine Express

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CAF built twelve Class 397 five-car electric multiple units for TransPennine Express for its West Coast Main Line services, which operate from Liverpool and Manchester Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh. These units were due to be delivered between 2018 and 2019, replacing the four-car Class 350/4 units which were previously used on these services.[27] They have a maximum speed of 125 mph (200 km/h).[28]

West Midlands Trains

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It was announced in late 2017 that CAF will also supply 26 Class 196 diesel multiple units for West Midlands Trains, which will be in two-car and four-car formations. They will operate services for the company's West Midlands Railway sub-brand.[29]

Transport for Wales

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In June 2018 it was announced that KeolisAmey Wales had ordered 51 two-car and 26 three-car diesel multiple Civitys, to be based at Chester and Machynlleth depots. These have since received the TOPS designation Class 197.[30]

London North Eastern Railway

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In November 2023 it was announced that London North Eastern Railway had ordered 10 ten-car tri-mode Civitys.[31] They have since been classified as Class 897 units.

Orders

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Philippines

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The Philippine National Railways confirmed the order of 7 Civity trains from Mitsubishi–CAF joint venture in 2023. These 8-car trains shall be used on the North–South Commuter Railway's Airport Express service with a maximum speed of 160 km/h (100 mph).[32] Its design is based on the Mexican El Insurgente trains, distinguished by the use of 1.5 kilovolt DC electrification, gangway doors and the adoption of Japanese Shibata couplers.[33]

For compatibility with the line's platform screen doors, the trains will have a 20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in) car length, 2,950 mm (9 ft 8 in) width and be 4,150 mm (13 ft 7 in) in height. It will also have a high platform design of 1,150 mm (3 ft 9 in) height as measured from the rails. The trains can fit up to 800 passengers with 392 seated, 8 wheelchair spaces and 400 standees.[34]

Cancelled orders

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Latvia

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In 2012, Latvian railway operator Pasažieru vilciens placed a €400 million order for 34 electric and seven diesel-electric multiple units. The order also included a 30-year maintenance plan for the units. The three car sets were to be built for the 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) Russian gauge and capable of operating on lines electrified at 3000V DC with a maximum speed of 140 km/h (90 mph).[35] The order was subsequently cancelled, with no units built.

Fleet details

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Class Image Operator(s) Type No. Cars Built
  Australia
R set NSW TrainLink BMU 19 3 2023–
10 6
  Italy
ETR 452   Ferrotramviaria EMU 5 4 2014–15
ETR 563   Trenitalia 8 5 2012–13
ETR 564 4 2014
  Montenegro
6111   Željeznički prevoz Crne Gore EMU 3 3 2013
  Netherlands
SNG   Nederlandse Spoorwegen EMU 118 3 2018–
88 4
  United Kingdom
Class 195   Northern Trains DMU 25 2 2017–2020
33 3
Class 196   West Midlands Trains 12 2 2019–2022
14 4
Class 197   Transport for Wales 51 2 2020–
26 3
Class 331   Northern Trains EMU 31 2017–2020
12 4
Class 397
Nova 2
  TransPennine Express 12 5 2017–2019
Class 897 London North Eastern Railway TMU 10 10 not yet known
  Germany
not yet known not yet known
(Niederrhein-Münsterland-Netz)
BEMU 60 2021–
  Mexico
Intercity Train
 
Tren Interurbano México-Toluca

"El Insurgente"

EMU 30 5 2014-2024

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Civity, a family of trains for commuter and regional services – CAF".
  2. ^ "Regional Rail". Transport for NSW. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Regional Rail". Transport for NSW. 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Momentum Trains – Dubbo, New South Wales". Momentum Trains. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. ^ Visontay, Elias; Transport, Elias Visontay; reporter, urban affairs (10 February 2023). "NSW Labor pledges to improve ageing regional trains after 'botched' rollout of new fleet". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Batterie-elektrische Fahrzeuge für das Niederrhein-Münsterland Netz". Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (in German). 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Germany-Gelsenkirchen: Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock – 2022/S 075-204505 – Voluntary ex ante transparency notice – Services". Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, Tenders Electronic Daily. Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. ^ Chiandoni, Marco. "CAF delivers regional train to Italy".
  9. ^ Bruzzo, Marco (24 December 2014). "FT: ETR 452 in servizio". tuttoTRENO Blog (in Italian). Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes: Tren Interurbano México-Toluca". www.sct.gob.mx. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Colapsan trabes del Tren México-Toluca" (in Spanish). El Financiero. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  12. ^ Vlada Crne Gore (The Government of Montenegro) – U junu 2013. godine Crna Gora dobiće tri nova elektromotorna voza (Serbian) Retrieved November 17, 2011
  13. ^ ZCG Prevoz – Novosti – U julu 2013. godine, isporuka 3 nova EMV-a Archived 2013-03-06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved November 2011
  14. ^ Briginshaw, David. "NS names CAF preferred bidder for Sprinter fleet". Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  15. ^ "Reizigersvereniging Rover". www.facebook.com.
  16. ^ "NS orders 88 Sprinter EMUs". Railway Gazette International. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  17. ^ Redacteur (24 August 2022). "CAF wint aanbesteding NS Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie". Rail Magazine (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Renfe adjudica a CAF el suministro de 28 trenes eléctricos MD". www.renfe.com.
  19. ^ "Renfe amplia su contrato con CAF para el suministro de 32 trenes". www.renfe.com.
  20. ^ Transitio, A. B. "Transitio upphandlar 28 nya tåg av CAF – AB Transitio". www.transitio.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  21. ^ "CAF levererar nya Krösatågen". Järnvägar. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  22. ^ "New Krösatågen EMUs and EDMUs For Sweden". Railvolution. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  23. ^ a b "UK railway news round-up". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Eversholt Rail to finance new trains for Northern franchise". Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  25. ^ "UK railway news round-up". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  26. ^ Fender, Keith. "CAF presents first Civity EMU for Northern". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  27. ^ "More new trains for the North and Scotland". First Transpennine Express. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  28. ^ "TransPennine Express orders EMUs and hauled stock". Railway Gazette International. 23 May 2016.
  29. ^ "Bombardier and CAF to supply 107 trains for West Midlands franchise". International Railway Journal. 16 October 2017.
  30. ^ "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  31. ^ "CAF selected by the British operator London North Eastern Railway to supply first tri-Mode UK intercity fleet". CAF. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  32. ^ May, Tiana (5 December 2023). "CAF to Deliver 7 EMU Express Trains to the Philippines". Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Manila express EMUs ordered". 5 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  34. ^ Dueñas, Joseph (26 February 2021). EMPLOYER'S REQUIREMENT (PDF). BIDDING DOCUMENTS FOR PROCUREMENT OF PACKAGE CP NS-03: ROLLING STOCK – LIMITED EXPRESS TRAINSETS (Report). Vol. II. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  35. ^ "CAF wins Latvian train contract". Railway Gazette International. 10 April 2012.
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