EMEF delivers refurbished Alfa Pendular train to CP

Following a thorough refurbishment recently carried out at its central workshops in Entroncamento, Empresa de Manutenção de Equipamento Ferroviário, S.A. (EMEF) has delivered the first New Generation Alfa Pendular train to Comboios de Portugal (CP).

CP’s Alfa Pendular trains first entered service in 1999, and since then they have travelled over 41 million kilometres and carried around 26 million passengers. Before the train’s delivery, it underwent thorough refurbishment to improve passenger safety and comfort, with new seats and seat-cover materials and new lighting systems being fitted. Furthermore, the bar and toilets were remodelled, a new Wi-Fi mobile communication system was installed, and individual electricity sockets were fitted to all seats.

This refurbishment was carried out by about 80 EMEF workers and numerous specialised Portuguese service providers, with 90% of the project involving Portuguese technology and resources.

“This project demonstrates EMEF’s ability to take its place as a lead company that can incorporate the contributions of other sectors of Portuguese industry, and provide more robust and competitive all-round solutions for the Portuguese and international market,” said Alberto Castanho Ribeiro, CEO of EMEF.

EMEF SA was founded in 1993. Since then it has expanded both industrially and geographically, and now operates in the international market. The refurbishment work involved over 1500 procedures, ranging from complete disassembly of the train’s interior to painting with new colours to set the New Generation Alfa Pendular apart. The train’s 176 seats were also dismantled and rebuilt using new foam and new leather seat covers. In total, 300 square metres of carpet was laid, and 44km of new wiring and 2,700kg of paint were used.

All ten of CP’s Alfa Pendular trains will undergo this complete refurbishment (which is costing CP approximately €18 million), and the next train is expected at EMEF this month.