Spanish rail manufacturer CAF has secured Belgium's largest-ever train procurement contract, signing a €1.7 billion supply agreement with Belgian national railway operator SNCB. Under the deal, CAF will initially supply 180 trains over a 12-year contract period, with SNCB holding an option to purchase an additional 380 units, bringing the potential total to 560 trains—setting a new record for Belgium's rolling stock procurement.
The first batch of trains is scheduled to enter service in 2030, comprising double-deck AM30 EMUs with 3 or 4 cars and single-deck battery-electric MR30 trains. All models are based on CAF's Civity platform, which is also currently supplying trains to Dutch operator NS.
The bidding process for this order was marked by challenges. After being selected as the preferred bidder in March 2025, CAF faced objections and appeals from competitors Alstom and Siemens. Although CAF's bid was not the lowest in price, it achieved the highest overall score. SNCB confirmed its decision to proceed with CAF in July 2025, while requiring commitments from CAF regarding local hiring and procurement, as well as compliance with international law and human rights standards. Ultimately, the competitors' appeals were unsuccessful. Notably, Alstom has announced plans to close its Bruges factory in Belgium by mid-2026, with 150 job cuts.
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