Belgrade to get 30 new trams from Spain - CAF and City Transportation Company Beograd signed contract worth about 81m EUR

City of Belgrade signed the contract today (November 3, 2009) with Spanish company CAF on procurement of 30 new trams worth about 81m EUR for the City Transportation Company (GSP). These trams should be delivered within the next three years.

The Mayor of Belgrade, Dragan Đilas, said in the City Parliament that 30 new trams would significantly improve the quality of transportation, as well as enhance the appearance of the city.

- Individual value of trams is 2.1m EUR, but total price is somewhat bigger because it includes the costs of spare parts, special tools, education of personnel and transportation - said Đilas.

The Mayor said the CAF's offer had been selected by the expert commission as the best, although the offer of Croatian company Končar had been few per cents cheaper, because Spanish product was of higher quality.

- The first tram from Spain should appear in the streets of Belgrade in two years, while all others will be delivered in 1,035 days - said Đilas.

He said that one of the primary tasks of the city authorities was to improve the quality of transportation, and added that, in addition to procurement of 30 trams, 83 new trolleybuses would be bought in 2010, as well as that air-conditioning systems would be installed in more than 200 buses.

- European Investment Bank has granted the loan of 20m EUR for purchase of trams, while the rest will be paid from the budget of the city prior to year 2014 - Đilas announced.

The contract was signed by the directors of CAF, Jesus Esnaola and Felipe Rodrigo, and the CEO