Renfe has launched a tender for 30 high-speed trains capable of 350 km/h, with an initial cost of 1.650 million euros and a total estimated value of 4.145 million. The state operator aims to replace its oldest units and has temporarily suspended the direct Madrid-Paris link due to administrative hurdles in France.
Renfe has formalized the tender process for purchasing 30 new high-speed trains, as per the specifications published on the state's procurement platform. The initial contract is worth 1.650 million euros, with an option for 10 more units raising it to 2.150 million, though the total estimated value, including maintenance, reaches 4.145 million.
Companies have until April 21 to submit bids, with a 78-month execution period. Manufacturers such as Alstom, Siemens, and Hitachi are competing for the order, which will replace the 22 Series 100 units in service since 1992. Deliveries will start with five trains within the first 40 months, followed by one every month and a half.
The new trains must provide at least 450 seats in two classes, be fully accessible for people with reduced mobility, and include cafeteria spaces. Renfe aims to modernize its fleet amid growing demand on high-speed and medium-distance corridors, following recent incidents like the January 18 accident in Adamuz that killed 46 people.
In parallel, the company has temporarily suspended its project to link Madrid and Paris by high-speed rail, due to homologation difficulties in France and no guaranteed timeline. The Barcelona-Toulouse link planned for 2025 has also been halted, with slot reservations on Paris-Lyon withdrawn, though existing services to Marseille and Lyon continue, carrying 650,000 passengers annually.
