Portugal shortlisted Alstom and Talgo for €504 million High-Speed Train Tender

Lisbon, Portugal (Rail & Metro Today): Portugal’s national railway operator Comboios de Portugal (CP) has completed the pre-qualification phase of its tender for the supply and maintenance of 12 high-speed trains, inviting Alstom and Talgo to submit their proposals for the major rolling stock programme.

The proposed base contract is valued at €504 million and includes the supply of spare parts, with an option for CP to purchase eight additional high-speed trains. The Portuguese railway operator expects to select the preferred bidder and sign the contract in the first quarter of 2027, with delivery of the first train scheduled for the first quarter of 2031.

New High-Speed Trains to Offer More Than 500 Seats

The new high-speed trains will be designed to accommodate more than 500 passengers and will feature a range of modern passenger amenities. These include dedicated spaces for bicycles, onboard Wi-Fi, USB-C charging sockets and CCTV systems.

The procurement represents one of the largest investments in rolling stock undertaken by CP and forms part of a broader programme to modernise Portugal’s railway fleet and expand the operator’s capabilities.

The tender also marks an important step towards CP’s planned entry into the operation of high-speed rail services, as Portugal continues to develop its high-speed railway network.

Pedro Moreira, chairman of CP’s board of directors, said the tender represents an important milestone in the company’s development.

“This latest tender is an important step towards CP’s entry into running high-speed services. With these decisive investments we are preparing the company to respond to the mobility needs of the coming decades, with a more modern, efficient offer capable of bringing people and regions closer together.”

Major Fleet Investment Underway

The high-speed train procurement follows major agreements already signed by CP for the renewal of its commuter and regional rolling stock.

In October 2025 and March 2026, CP concluded agreements with a consortium comprising Alstom and Portuguese company Domingos da Silva Teixeira (DST) worth a combined €1.05 billion. The contracts cover a total of 153 commuter and regional electric multiple units (EMUs), with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029.

The investment is expected to significantly modernise CP’s fleet and strengthen the operator’s capacity to provide more efficient regional and suburban railway services.

Stadler Flirt Trains Begin Arriving

CP has also confirmed that the first units of a separate order for 22 Stadler Flirt EMUs have started arriving in Portugal. The trains were ordered from Stadler in 2020 under a €158 million contract for regional passenger services.

The Flirt trains were originally expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. The first units have now arrived and are undergoing the necessary approval and certification processes before entering passenger service.

Together, the high-speed train tender, the 153 new commuter and regional EMUs and the Stadler Flirt fleet represent a substantial transformation of Portugal’s railway rolling stock. The investments are intended to provide CP with a more modern fleet capable of supporting growing passenger demand and improved connectivity between Portuguese cities and regions.

For CP, the planned high-speed fleet will also mark a new phase in the company’s operations, as it prepares to participate directly in Portugal’s emerging high-speed rail market. The first high-speed train is currently expected to arrive in 2031, subject to the outcome of the procurement process and subsequent contract implementation.