The Province of Bizkaia, in the Basque Country (Euskadi), has announced a major investment to renew the Bilbao Metro fleet, with a budget estimated at EUR 700–800 million.
Discussions will take place with the council of the Bizkaia Transport Consortium (CTB) – the public transport authority for the province – with the aim of convening the CTB before the end of the year to launch the tender process for the renewal of Metro Bilbao.
“The Provincial Council has already drawn up a financial plan to cover its 50% share of this investment,” said Elixabete Etxanobe, General Deputy of Bizkaia, who also serves as President of both the CTB and Metro Bilbao. The announcement was made on 3 November 2025 at Sarriko station, during a ceremony marking three decades since the inauguration of Bilbao Metro.
The process to renew the existing trains and replace them with more modern units is already under way. By the end of this year, a technical document detailing the characteristics of the second generation of Metro Bilbao trains and communications systems will be completed. Once finalised, the CTB council will proceed to launch the procurement process for new metro trains. It is expected that 37 new metro trains will be acquired to replace the current 30-year-old fleet, along with a contract for the modernisation of signalling and communications systems across the three lines, which together span 51 km.
The Bilbao Metro fleet currently comprises 46 trains manufactured by CAF. Since 1995, the fleet has travelled more than 123 million kilometres, recording almost 2.3 billion journeys. The procurement of new trains and the upgrading of signalling systems mark the beginning of a new era for public transport in the city.
Looking to the future, Elixabete Etxanobe reaffirmed her public commitment “to renew the metro with a second generation of trains that will continue to guarantee the highest safety standards for passengers while improving service quality, punctuality, frequency and accessibility.”
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