CP invites Alstom and Talgo to bid for high-speed trains

Portugal’s state rail operator CP has invited France’s Alstom and Spain’s Talgo to submit bids for a €504 million contract to supply and maintain high-speed passenger trains, in a step that matters for the country’s planned entry into high-speed rail services.

The two companies were admitted after the pre-qualification phase of the tender. The contract covers 12 trainsets capable of running at up to 300 km/h on Portugal’s rail network, as well as spare parts and special tools, with an option to buy eight more units. It also includes full maintenance services for the two years following delivery of the first train.

Under the tender timetable, the contract is due to be signed in the first quarter of 2027 and the first train is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2031. CP said the new trainsets will offer more than 500 seats, be adapted for passengers with reduced mobility, and include bicycle spaces, Wi-Fi, USB-C sockets and video surveillance.

CP said the trains must be fully compatible with the Iberian-gauge rail network. In a statement, chairman Pedro Moreira called the tender “an important step” towards CP’s entry into high-speed rail, adding that fleet renewal is key as demand for rail transport grows.

Originally published at Eco.pt