Lisbon, Oct. 17, 2025 (Lusa) - CP said on Friday that it was analysing measures to bring forward the delivery schedule of the 117 new trains, scheduled to start in 2029, and to activate the option to buy 36 more units.
"The signing and entry into force of the contract and, consequently, the delivery of rolling stock, suffered severe delays as a result of the legal proceedings inherent in the award of the tender," CP - Comboios de Portugal said in a statement, emphasising that "at a time when there is a high growth in demand, it is necessary to recover the time associated with the litigation that took place."
The railway company said it was already "studying measures to bring forward the delivery schedule for the railcars and activating the option to purchase a further 36 units for urban services".
According to the previously established timetable, the railcars will be delivered from 2029.
On Wednesday, CP and the Alstom/DST consortium signed the contract for the purchase of 117 trains —the carrier's largest-ever purchase, worth €746 million —awarded in November 2023 and contested by other bidders.
"The delivery of this rolling stock allows for the renewal and modernisation of part of CP's fleet and the reinforcement of supply capacity" and "will make it possible to improve the quality levels of the service provided", "increase energy efficiency and reduce maintenance costs", the carrier pointed out in the same press release.
This is an investment of €746 million, of which €117.6 million will be co-financed by European funds and €212.5 million by the Environmental Fund.
The contract also covers the supply of spare parts and special tools, and the construction of a rolling stock maintenance workshop in Guifões (Matosinhos, district of Porto).
As Lusa reported on 9 September, CP confirmed that the suspensive effect of a second challenge to the public tender, filed by Spain's CAF, had been lifted. In July, the suspensive effect of a first challenge brought by the Swiss company Stadler had already been lifted.
MPE/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
