On 2 June, Renfe published a tender for the acquisition of high-speed trains for the Spanish rail network. Bids must be submitted by 23 June 2026 and must remain valid for 18 months.
The announcement regarding the purchase of these trains was made in March, when the Board of Directors of Renfe approved the project.
Renfe will acquire 30 high-speed trains worth EUR 1.36 billion. The contract also includes an option for a further 40 trains, estimated at nearly EUR 1.8 billion. According to the tender, the total value of the framework agreement is estimated at EUR 4.14 billion.
The first five trains must be delivered within 40 months of the contract being signed, while the remaining ordered trains will be delivered over a period of 78 months (6.5 years), at a rate of one train every six months.
The contract will be awarded based on a combination of technical and financial criteria:
• Technical offer evaluated through formula – 59.8% of the total score;
• Financial offer (price) – 30%;
• Technical offer assessed through qualitative criteria – 10.2%.
According to the tender, the provisional guarantee required from participants is EUR 54.8 million, while the final guarantee, to be provided by the winning bidder, represents 5% of the contract value.
To be eligible to participate in the tender, bidders must demonstrate legal capacity, must not be in situations that prevent them from contracting with public authorities, and must be up to date with tax obligations and social security contributions. They must also meet the technical experience and financial capacity requirements set out in the procurement documentation.
High-speed trains with a speed of 350 km/h
The procurement of high-speed trains for the Spanish rail network aims to renew the existing fleet, increase capacity and reliability, and respond to growing demand for passenger rail transport.
At present, the usual commercial speed of high-speed trains in Spain is around 300 km/h, although there are trainsets designed and certified for higher speeds. To enable operation at 350 km/h, it is not enough to use trains capable of reaching this speed; the infrastructure must also be upgraded to ensure safe and stable operation.
The first route targeted for this speed increase is Madrid–Barcelona, where the authorities intend to implement the necessary upgrades. The objective is to reduce journey times between Spain’s two largest cities to under two hours following completion of infrastructure works.
The new high-speed trains must offer at least 450 seats, distributed across two classes. The specification also sets strict accessibility requirements, ensuring that the trainsets can be used comfortably by passengers with reduced mobility.
The trains will also include catering services, as well as facilities aimed at improving the onboard passenger experience. Capacity, accessibility and reliability are considered essential elements of the project, as they affect both daily operations and passenger satisfaction.
From a technical point of view, the new units will be designed for standard European gauge operation and will be equipped with modern signalling and control systems, including ERTMS/ETCS and ASFA (Anuncio de Señales y Frenado Automático – signal announcement and automatic braking, a rail safety system mainly used in Spain).
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