Hitachi wins £622m contract to maintain ISLA trains in Spain

Spain’s leading high-speed rail operator ILSA has given Hitachi Rail España a 30-year contract for the maintenance of its fleet.

ILSA’s fleet consists of 20 brand new ETR1000 trains and the huge €737 million maintenance contract will be ongoing until 2052.

The awarding of the contract will guarantee the alliance between ILSA and Hitachi Rail globally and will provide continuation of an existing agreement from August 2020 for the manufacture of its trains.

Created in Italy, ILSA’s new fleet are the fastest, quietest and most sustainable throughout Europe and will be completely serviced in Madrid with a new team of 75 employees undertaking the maintenance work.

The work will feature predictive and corrective activities and will provide the highest standards for reliability, safety and comfort for passengers.

Operations by ILSA will commence during the second part of 2022, connecting Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga and Cordoba with the fleet whose efficiency is unequaled due to its trailblazing aerodynamics, energy-saving technologies alongside its incredible performance capabilities.

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The new fleet is made from 85% recyclable materials with 95% of those being renewable materials. The eco-based design concept has mirrored ILSA’s commitment to building the most sustainable fleet, also reflecting Hitachi Rail’s decarbonisation strategy to bring down carbon emissions for their customers.

Carlos Bertomeu, President of ILSA, said: “The agreement is a new step forward in the development of the first private high-speed operator in Spain, and proves the company’s commitment with the highest standards both in terms of operations and passenger comfort”, said Bertomeu. For the president of the Spanish-Italian company, “this contract further proves ILSA’s commitment to connectivity, industrial development and job creation in Spain”.

Simone Gorini, CEO of ILSA, said: “This maintenance agreement with Hitachi Rail is a vivid example of the long-lasting and valuable relationships that we want to establish with all our stakeholders to create wealth in Spain. The respect for the environment and the principles of sustainability are shared values between both companies and, without a doubt, have been a decisive factor in becoming strategic partners both for the manufacture and the maintenance of our fleet, with which the Spanish high-speed rail network will take a step forward in terms of innovation, sustainability and multimodality from the second half of 2022 onwards, once we start our operations. It is an honour for me, as ILSA’s new CEO, to take over the excellent relationship with Hitachi Rail initiated by my predecessor, Fabrizio Favara”.

“We are proud to deliver to the Spanish market not only the vehicles for the new high-speed lines but also our maintenance services. This allows us to contribute alongside our customers to the development of mobility in the countries in which we operate – both by contributing to the growth of high-speed rail travelling and by making journeys more environmentally friendly. This contract is a significant milestone for Hitachi Rail’s Operation Service & Maintenance division, which boasts extensive experience in full-service activities in Italy, ranging from high-speed to regional trains” said Edoardo La Ficara, Executive Officer, Operation Service & Maintenance Division, Hitachi Rail.

“This contract confirms the presence and the commitment of Hitachi Rail in the Spanish railway market – said Roberto Vitali, CEO Hitachi Rail España – Spain is an important country for our Operation Service & Maintenance business: in addition to this Full-Service contract for the ETR1000 fleet, we have contract for the maintenance of 53 metros in service on the Madrid metro network and for the maintenance of the high-speed line infrastructure from Madrid to Lerida”

The ILSA fleet’s first train is currently in Spain undergoing homologation tests. The second and third units which are being manufactured by Hitachi Rail and Alstom Group (formerly Bombardier Transportation) in their factory in Pistoia, Italy, will arrive in Madrid before the end of 2021.  

Each of the ETR1000 trains are 200 metres in length with a capacity for 460 passengers and with capabilities of reaching speeds of up to 360km/h. High levels of on board comfort have been provided with more spacious seating and the addition of 5G WiFi in the bar area. 

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