NACE 30.2 – Manufacture of Railway Locomotives and Rolling Stock | Public Tenders

NACE 30.2: Trains, metros and trams in public tenders. EU-wide local public transport vehicle procurement – CPV codes and procurement procedures for rail vehicles.

Definition: NACE 30.2 covers the construction of locomotives, multiple-unit trains, passenger carriages, freight wagons, metro trains, trams and associated rolling stock for rail passenger and rail freight transport. This group is among the most strategically significant segments in European public procurement.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: April 2026

What does NACE 30.2 cover?

NACE 30.2 (Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock) classifies manufacturers of trains, metros, trams and locomotives — an industry whose sales are determined almost entirely by public procurement, as operators of rail infrastructure are almost exclusively public or regulated undertakings.

Group 30.2 is broken down into the following class:

Class	Title	Typical Products
30.20	Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock	Electric locomotives, diesel locomotives, multiple-unit trains, double-deck coaches, metro trains, trams, freight wagons, track construction vehicles

Public contracting authorities are DB Fernverkehr, DB Regio, ÖBB, municipal transport undertakings (BVG, Wiener Linien, MVG), federal states as local public transport authorities and railway infrastructure operators.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 30.2

Rail vehicle procurement is among the largest single tenders in European public procurement — framework agreements for trams or metro trains can reach volumes of several billion euros.

Typical Contract Types

Long-distance multiple units: High-speed trains, ICE successors, international night trains for DB and ÖBB
Regional trains: Electric and diesel multiple-unit trains for regional rail passenger transport (SPNV)
Metro vehicles: New metro trains for urban transport operators (Berlin U5 type, Vienna metro)
Trams: Low-floor trams for municipal transport operators, often tendered EU-wide
Freight wagons: State and regulated freight rail undertakings procure wagons
Track machinery: Tamping machines, tamping trains, rail grinders for infrastructure operators

Thresholds and Procedure Types

Rail vehicle procurement by utility contracting entities (railway operators) is subject to utilities procurement law (Directive 2014/25/EU). The threshold for supply contracts is EUR 443,000 — in practice irrelevant for rail vehicles, as individual values lie far above. Restricted procedures following prior competition or negotiated procedures due to technical complexity are typical. Framework purchase contracts with options are common market practice.

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 30.2

CPV Code	Title	Scope
34600000	Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts	Top-level category
34620000	Rolling stock	Electric and diesel locomotives
34622000	Railway and tramway passenger coaches	Electric multiple units (EMU), SPNV vehicles
34622100	Tramway passenger coaches	Low-floor trams
34622200	Railway carriages	Metro trains, suburban train vehicles
34623000	Railway carriages and goods wagons	Tank wagons, container wagons

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily), often in the utilities procurement category.

Who is NACE 30.2 relevant for in public procurement?

Public Contracting Authorities

DB AG (DB Fernverkehr, DB Regio) and ÖBB are the largest single buyers of rail vehicles in Germany and Austria. Municipal transport undertakings such as BVG (Berlin), MVG (Munich), Wiener Linien or VGF (Frankfurt) procure trams and metro trains independently. Public transport authorities (federal states, special-purpose associations) may coordinate procurement as utility contracting entities.

Companies and Bidders

The global market for rail vehicles is dominated by a few large groups (Alstom, Siemens Mobility, Stadler, CRRC, Hitachi). Bidders must demonstrate:

TSI conformity: Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI standards under Directive 2016/797/EU)
ERA approval: Vehicle authorisation by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) or national authority (EBA, bmvit)
References: Comparable fleet deliveries in terms of number, vehicle length and requirements profile
Life-cycle costs (LCC): Contracting authorities are increasingly assessing operating costs over the entire vehicle life

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 30.2 and Public Tenders

How are tram procurements typically awarded?
Trams are awarded under the restricted procedure or negotiated procedure. A prior competition filters suitable bidders. Technical specifications are based on existing vehicle fleets (system compatibility) or prescribe open platforms.

Can contracting authorities prefer European manufacturers over Asian ones?
In the open EU single market and under the GPA (Government Procurement Agreement), discrimination by country of origin is generally not permitted. However, the EU is examining instruments for reciprocity in markets with unequal market access conditions.

What are life-cycle costs (LCC), and how are they considered in tenders?
LCC encompass all costs over the vehicle's service life: acquisition, maintenance, energy, disposal. Contracting authorities use LCC calculations as award criteria alongside the purchase price to identify the most economically advantageous tender.

NACE 30.2 in context: Section C and Division 30

NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section
NACE 30.1 – Building of ships and boats: Authority ships, ferries
NACE 30.3 – Manufacture of air and spacecraft: Military aircraft, helicopters
NACE 30.4 – Manufacture of military fighting vehicles: Armoured vehicles

Last updated: April 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.