Porto, Aug. 14, 2025 (Lusa) - CP - Comboios de Portugal told Lusa on Thursday that the first of the 22 new regional trains ordered from Stadler will arrive in the country later this year, and that the homologation tests for the first multiple units will be completed in 2026.
"Considering the latest status of this project, the first unit is scheduled to arrive in Portugal at the end of this year. The homologation tests and delivery of the first units to CP will be completed during the second half of 2026," reads CP's response to questions from Lusa.
At issue is the order for 22 new railcars from Stadler, 12 of which are dual-mode (with electric and diesel traction), placed in 2020 for €158 million, essentially for the Regional service on the West and Alentejo lines.
In April, an official CP source told the Público newspaper that "due to various contingencies" the manufacturer predicted that it would no longer be possible to "meet the delivery deadline", which pointed to the arrival of the first railcar from October this year and then two railcars per month.
At the time, CP asked Stadler to present "proposals to mitigate this delay", and the company promised to present "a new schedule for the delivery of the trains, which will be analysed and evaluated".
The possible delay even prompted the Beja City Council to send a letter to CP on the subject of the trains that are to serve the region, with the mayor, Paulo Arsénio (PS), expressing "great concern".
The contract signed in October 2020 for the acquisition of 22 Flirt model trains "includes the supply of twelve duel-mode trains and ten electric trains and their parts, as well as the provision of preventive and corrective maintenance services for a minimum period of three years, accompanied by training services".
At the time, CP said that "this reinforcement of the rolling stock fleet would increase CP's capacity to respond to the mobility needs of the population, particularly in regional services, ensuring the transition to full electrification of the railway infrastructure".
JE/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
