Spanish Minister of Transportation and Sustainable Mobility Óscar Puente paid a visit to the Velim Testing Center in the Czech Republic to oversee the certification process for the new CAF EMUs purchased by the Spanish national operator Renfe. The visit highlights the strategic importance that Spanish authorities attach to the EUR 520 million rolling stock renewal program.
The new Series 480 trains, manufactured by CAF at its plant in Beasain, in the Basque Country, are being tested at the Velim testing center. Renfe has ordered 70 EMUs intended for regional and commuter services; these are currently in the final stages of manufacturing and certification before entering commercial service.
The first trains are expected to enter service in 2027 in the Valencia region, where they will serve connections on the Mediterranean Corridor. The acquisition is part of a broader program to modernize Renfe’s rolling stock fleet, which includes 61 Iberian-gauge trains and nine UIC standard-gauge trains.
Tests Conducted at Velim
The Velim Test Center is considered one of the most important railway testing centers in Europe and is regularly used by major manufacturers to certify new vehicles before they enter service. The complex features two test loops with no commercial traffic: a 13.2-km circuit for speeds up to 230 km/h and a 3.9-km circuit for speeds up to 90 km/h.
The testing program evaluates braking and acceleration performance, electromagnetic compatibility, signaling systems, as well as noise and vibration levels. Successful completion of these tests is an essential step toward the authorization of trains and their entry into commercial service.
The new CAF 480 series trains can travel at speeds of up to 200 km/h and have a capacity of up to 264 passengers. The trains are dual-voltage and equipped with batteries that allow them to travel short distances without power from the overhead line, including on non-electrified sections.
The trains will increase the system’s capacity and complement investments in rail infrastructure and corridors, directly contributing to improved daily mobility for passengers.
Óscar Puente’s visit to the Czech Republic also included a meeting with Czech Minister of Transport Ivan Bednárik, during which the two officials discussed the development of the railway sector and the contribution of Spanish companies to Czech railway projects, including high-speed lines.
“Spain is ready to cooperate with Czech authorities in implementing high-speed projects through the companies Talgo, Renfe, and Ineco, which are already involved in projects related to railway modernization, electrification, interoperability, and multimodal integration,” Óscar Puente stated.
The Czech Republic continues to develop a core network of high-speed connections that will link the country’s major economic centers with European transport corridors.
“Spain has long been one of Europe’s leaders in the construction of high-speed rail lines and has managed to implement these projects at very competitive costs per kilometer. One of the reasons is the high level of standardization of technical solutions and the use of standard designs,” said Czech Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik.
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