From Malaga to Mecca – Full steam ahead
High speed AVE trains being built in Los Prados, Malaga, could be used by passengers making their pilgrimage to the city of Mecca – the holiest meeting site in Islam – in Saudi Arabia. This follows a visit from a delegation of Saudis to the works site of the AVE in Malaga to decide if they will award the €6,500 million contract to a Spanish consortium led by Renfe; it would be the first international order for the Spanish rail company.
Renfe’s main rival for the lucrative deal is a French group of companies headed by Alstom, whose instalations were also visited previously by the Saudi delegation.
Nevertheless, the Spanish are reportedly optimistic their bid for the contract will be successful. The rail line up for grabs – dubbed the ‘desert AVE’ – would be the 444 kilometre stretch linking the cities of Medina, Yeda and Mecca.
The only requisite by Saudi Arabia is that the model of train be the Talgo 350 model known as ‘Pato’ and not the Talgo Avril prototype, supplied and built by Talgo for the AVE network in collaboration with Canadian company Bombardier.
The 12 year contract offer up for grabs includes the management of the trains and all engineering and electricity installations.
At the Los Prados facilities in Malaga, 240 people are currently building 14 ‘Pato’ trains, as well as another 100 who work in the maintenance of AVE trains.
If the Spanish bid is successful, it is expected that at least part of the work will be carried out in Malaga.
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