Brazil's Bahia State Picks CRRC for R$490m Salvador Metro Order

Brazil's Bahia state government has selected a CRRC Changchun-led consortium to supply 10 new four-car metro trainsets for the Salvador and Lauro de Freitas network, homologating the decision through the Companhia de Transportes do Estado da Bahia (CTB) and publishing it in the state's official gazette on 7 July. The 40-car order is worth R$490.4m ($90m), with CRRC's bid beating a rival offer from Alstom priced at R$614.4m.

The winning consortium comprises CRRC Changchun do Brasil Railway Equipamentos e Servicos and CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, the manufacturer's Chinese parent unit. The new trains will serve Lines 1 and 2 of the Salvador metro. Neither CRRC, the Bahia state government (acting through CTB) nor Brazilian trade press covering the award has disclosed a delivery timeline; the next step is for the state to formalise and sign the contract before manufacturing begins. Train capacity, gauge and signalling compatibility have not been disclosed in any available source.

No individual official has been quoted publicly on the award; CTB, the state transport company, is the only named authority involved in the process to date. The Salvador metro, operated under a CCR-led concession, has expanded steadily since its first line opened in 2014, with Line 2 extending service toward Lauro de Freitas.