Irlanda retira a Indra el contrato para renovar la gestión ferroviaria

Irish Rail has terminated its contract with Spanish company Indra for the renewal of railway management systems, citing delays and legal threats. Indra is negotiating the terms of the resolution. The Spanish firm was awarded the 32-million-euro contract in 2020 to develop a new traffic management system for the entire country. However, the project faced numerous delays and issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to its renewal in 2024.

The Irish railway company claims they have already paid Indra 28.2 million euros, plus an additional 17 million for costs. Indra's representatives acknowledge their intention to reach a friendly agreement and end the contract, rather than facing reputational damage in Ireland. They attribute the problems to the excessive use of external consultants and insufficient internal specialized personnel by Irish Rail, as well as the lack of detailed technical documentation for the new system.

According to sources, Indra has worked without issues on similar contracts in Spain and Saudi Arabia. The Spanish company opened an office in Dublin last January to boost its mobility business. Indra has been in Ireland for 20 years, including recent major contracts such as a toll system for a tunnel in the capital. Indra continues to strengthen its position in the space business, with CEO Angel Simón participating in the European 2030+ alliance alongside Alpha Impulsion, CT Ingenieros, and Mecano ID to develop the Garnet rocket engine for the next generation of European micro-launchers.