SNCB confirmed CAF as preferred bidder for the supply of the new fleet

On 23 July 2025 it was announced that further to the resolution of the Council of State, the SNCB Board of Directors confirmed CAF as the preferred bidder for the Type AM30 train development, manufacturing and supply. Thus the original ranking of CAF, Siemens Mobility and Alstom offerings had remained unchanged.

Accordingly, it was approved the continuation of the procurement process with CAF, with the aim of concluding the framework agreement award. The framework agreement covers a maximum scope of units of 170,000 places, with an initial base commitment valued at 1.7 billion EUR (units for 54,000 places), subject to the final award of the contract. With options, the worth of the contract could raise the total of 3.4 billion EUR. The basic contract includes 180 units, the framework contract is for up to 600 units. Deliveries are to take place between 2029 and 2034.

In late 2022 SNCB called tenders for a 12-year framework agreement covering the supply of 160 km/h trains to replace much of  the older stock with  the unified fleet of EMUs and BEMUs. The new AM30s are intended for use on both Suburban/Local (S/L) and InterCity (IC) routes, tailored to high- or low-capacity operations. Each EMU will have three cars, with a total length of 80 m. The length of BEMUs will vary depending on their deployment. The EMUs  will have a maximum speed of 160 km/h, while BEMUs operating in battery mode must be capable to run up to 120 km/h. All units must be able to work under 3 kV and 1.5 kV DC voltages and have to be authorised for operation in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Germany.

CAF was selected as preferred bidder on 28 February 2025. The operator said that the Spanish company had offered the best price to quality ratio, with its higher-quality proposal beating a lower-priced offer. Subsquently criticism arose in the Belgian press and politics (including Alstom). They argued that SNCB should have prefer local production, as Alstom has factories in Brugge and Charleroi, to avoid the potential impact on Belgian jobs. SNCB explained that under EU procurement regulations the local production requirements cannot be taken into account and that the selection process was fully transparent, in line with the tender’s specifications.

In April 2025, the Belgian Council of State suspended SNCB’s decision, following a legal challenge by Alstom, supposing that SNCB had failed to clearly define the criteria for evaluating the technical quality of bids, thus violating the transparency requirements of public procurement procedures. Now, however, the SNCB‘s decision was confirmed as valid.

SNCB issued this statement: „The 2023 - 2032 Public Service Contract signed with the Belgian State in December 2022 stipulates that 50 % of the SNCB fleet will be renewed by the end of this period, in particular to meet the expected growth in passenger numbers, improve customer comfort, and replace aging rolling stock with more flexible and energy-efficient fleet.

The timely delivery of new trains is of the utmost importance in this context. In December 2022, the Board of Directors approved the selection and award criteria and launched a European call for tenders for a framework contract for the delivery of new units, including 54,000 seats as part of an initial order. The trains must offer all the necessary comfort for passengers, including independent access for people with reduced mobility, quiet zones, information screens, connectivity, and sufficient space for bicycles. The order also includes battery-powered trains intended to eventually replace the current diesel multiple units.

Following the Council of State's suspension of its 28 February decision to designate CAF as the preferred bidder, the Board of Directors decided on 23 July 2025, to reconfirm CAF as the preferred bidder based on a statement of reasons that takes into account the Council of State's decision.

The Board of Directors noted that the bids submitted by the three bidders each mention the use of local service providers. The Board appreciates this and invites the preferred bidder to pursue this option. The Board of Directors instructed management, as part of ongoing discussions with the preferred bidder with a view to the final award decision, to request confirmation from CAF that its activities comply with international law and human rights.“