Renfe prepara 30 trenes para llevar sus AVE a Portugal en 2030

Renfe has begun preparations to equip 30 Talgo high-speed trains with adjustable wheels for operation in Portugal starting in 2030. This aligns with the country's goal of developing its high-speed rail network and forming a railway union with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The 30 trains will join the existing fleet of Series 106 and 107, which are already designed to adapt to Portugal's Iberian track gauge.

Minister of Transport Óscar Puente confirmed the decision to modify the homologation plan previously set for France, where Renfe had planned to operate 10 trains. The project, which includes installing signaling and safety technology, is expected to cost around 20 million euros. The trains will be used on the Vigo-Oporto and Lisbon-Badajoz-to-Madrid routes.

Portugal is also working on connecting Lisbon to Oporto, with services starting in 2032, and plans to complete the Oporto-Vigo connection by 2034. The most significant infrastructure project is the construction of a third bridge over the Tagus River, which will reduce travel times to southern Spain by 30 minutes and enable a three-hour journey between Madrid and Lisbon.

Challenges include financing and environmental impact assessments. Puente emphasized a shift in Renfe's internationalization strategy, moving away from France due to regulatory hurdles and focusing on Portugal, which is eager to develop its high-speed network. The two countries aim to be connected by rail, but France's pressure on Spain has had little effect.

Renfe is awaiting the delivery of the delayed Series 107 trains, after being fined 116 million euros by Talgo for delays. Puente acknowledged that the industry-wide delays in production and certification are causing issues for European manufacturers like Alstom, Siemens, and Stadler. He expects China to enter the market if European production cannot meet reasonable timelines and costs, warning that the automotive industry has already experienced this shift.

Renfe currently expects to receive the Series 107 in 2027, two years late, and the Macropedido contract for regional services, awarded to Alstom, CAF, and Stadler, is also behind schedule with a EUR 1 billion penalty.