Lisbon, Feb. 6, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese government has approved an additional expenditure of €317.9 million in the rolling stock contract for train operator, CP, including funds to speed up deliveries and for the early exercise of the option right for a further 36 units.
In a resolution by the Cabinet, published in the official government gazette, the Government acknowledged that the tendering process and subsequent delivery of 117 electric railcars, with an option to purchase a further 36, had been "significantly delayed", with the contract with the Alstom/DST consortium only being signed last October, for €746 million, mainly due to challenges from unsuccessful bidders.
"Only after the suspension of the award decision in both cases was it possible to complete the procedure and sign the contract," the Cabinet resolution pointed out, noting that the current "rolling stock, with a high average age, is insufficient to meet the desired quality of service, while also leading to significant increases in maintenance costs and periods of immobilisation".
Therefore, the government considered, "it is necessary to make up for the time lost due to the legal proceedings, taking all possible measures to accelerate the modernisation of the CP fleet, with a view to complying with the Public Service Contract signed with the Portuguese State".
To this end, CP was "mandated to submit a proposal to activate the option to purchase 36 additional electric railcars for urban services, as well as possible scenarios for bringing forward the general timetable for the delivery of rolling stock," the cabinet resolution said.
According to the decree, "during the necessary negotiations with CP, on 22 December 2025, the co-contractor submitted a proposal, which resulted in additional expenditure to the contract concluded in the total amount of €317,980,000.12, of which €105,250, 000 refers to the contractual consideration for the acceleration and anticipation of rolling stock deliveries, and €212,730,000.12 to the early exercise of the option right for 36 additional units at the contracted unit price."
According to the resolution, "the Investment Plan for Rolling Stock for CP - Comboios de Portugal, E. P. E. was thus approved, which includes the acquisition of 117 electric railcars, 62 for urban services, 55 for regional services and 36 additional railcars for suburban services, respective spare parts and special tools up to a total amount of €1,064,022,425.05, plus VAT at the legal rate in force".
Contacted by Lusa, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing clarified that the proposal in question was triggered "after the mandate set out in Cabinet Resolution No. 141-A/2025, of 22 September, which requests that the operator CP clarify how the option to purchase 36 railcars can be exercised in advance and production accelerated in order to mitigate the delays caused by the 22-month legal dispute".
According to the Government, "the acceleration of the delivery of the units is motivated by the urgent need to respond to the shortage of rolling stock and the severe constraints that the age of the current fleet poses for CP", which, it pointed out, has "obvious impacts on passenger capacity and comfort".
"CP presented the conditions already provided for in the contract for the activation of the purchase option and requested a proposal from the supplier to accelerate the delivery of units," and "this proposal was analysed and scrutinised by CP for subsequent presentation to the supervisory authorities."
After approval of the acquisition and signing of the addendum, "the latter will be sent to the Court of Auditors for approval," it added.
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