Siemens Transportation Systems (TS) was given the order by the Portuguese State Railway (CP) to deliver 15 electric locomotives. Including the spare parts, this order is worth about EUR 70 million.

The order calls for Class ES46F1 locomotives. They are 4-axle units which are based on the Eurosprinter platform developed by Siemens and that will be built for the Portuguese broad-gauge system. These 4600-kW locomotives are to be used in the rail freight and passengers sectors and already foreseen to accept a later change in order to operate in European gauge standard.

This latest order further strengthens Siemens TS’ position of on the Portuguese railway market. “By buying Siemens locomotives the Portuguese State Railway is showing its reliance on internationally proven top technology,” said Friedrich Smaxwil, member of the TS group board.

Three of the locomotives will be completely manufactured at Siemens' plant in Munich. For the remaining twelve units, the body shell and preassembly work will likewise take place in Germany, while final assembly will be carried out by EMEF, a subsidiary of CP. The first locomotive will be delivered in July 2008. 

This contract is the second large locomotive order in Portugal since 1990, when a Siemens-led consortium was awarded the order to supply 30 class LE 5600 electric locomotives. They were then delivered between 1993 and 1995.