Rolling stock • Belgium • SNCB • AM30
Summary: CAF was selected by SNCB/NMBS in February 2025 to supply up to 600 trainsets, amounting to 170,000 passenger seats. The initial base commitment is worth €1.7 billion for units with 54,000 seats, with total options that could bring the contract value up to €3.4 billion. Deliveries are expected between 2029 and 2034. The photo above shows us the Dutch version, pending an SNCB version.
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In brief
CAF was initially selected in February 2025 because its offer scored best on quality-for-price, despite not being the lowest cost. That decision drew political and industry criticism in Belgium amid concerns about local jobs, and was briefly suspended in April 2025 over transparency issues. Following legal review, SNCB reaffirmed its choice, urging CAF to pursue local supplier participation and to confirm compliance with international law and human rights.
The Board of Directors decided on 23 July 2025 to continue with CAF in the tender for the development, manufacture and delivery of the trains, and signed the 12-year framework contract in December 2025, with an initial order for 180 three-cars trainsets.
The planned framework agreement could cover up to 600 trainsets, amounting to 170,000 passenger seats. The initial base commitment is worth €1.7 billion for units with 54,000 seats, with total options that could bring the contract value up to €3.4 billion. Deliveries are expected between 2029 and 2034.
| Family name: | – |
|---|---|
| Class: | AM30 |
| Manufacturer: | CAF |
| Train type: | Trainset |
| Sector: | Passenger |
| Operator(s): | SNCB/NMBS |
| First service: | – |
| ————————— | |
| Lenght: | – |
| Width: | – |
| Loco weight: | – |
| Electric system(s): | 3kV, 25kV |
| Brakes: | – |
| Track jauge: | 1,435mm |
The AM30s will replace the AM75 and AM80 trains, which are reaching the end of their service life. A battery-powered version is also planned to replace the AR41 diesel trains. At this stage, there are still few technical details available about the planned compositions, except that on three-car trains, the middle car will be a double-decker. The SNCB, faithful to its tradition of arithmetic, still prefers three-car trains to four-car trains. 🟧
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Rolling stock • Belgium • SNCB • Lexical