Lisbon, Jan. 22, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Council of Ministers (the Cabinet) on Thursday authorised the acquisition by passenger train operator CP - Comboios de Portugal of 12 high-speed railway trains, with an option to purchase a further eight, for a total of 20 trains, the Minister for Infrastructure announced.
The new trains, representing an investment of €584 million, can travel at a speed of 300 km/hour and carry 500 passengers per unit.
The delivery time for the first train is 48 months.
This investment includes €45 million for the creation of workshops and equipment.
The government has also decided to accelerate the purchase of 153 trains (55 regional and 98 urban), with the last delivery being brought forward from 2033 to 2031.
An option to purchase a further 36 units, under the contract for the acquisition of 117 trains from French multinational rail transport systems manufacturer, Alstom, (making a total of 153 trains), was also authorised by the Government.
The additional investment will be €318 million and the delivery of the first train is scheduled for 2029, with the deadline being brought forward by 17 months.
"This is the largest investment in the acquisition of trains ever made in Portugal, with the value reaching over €1.6 billion - adding to the €746 million of the base contract for the 117 trains the €318 million now approved for early delivery, as well as the €584 million for high-speed trains," according to a statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure.
During the committee stage debate of the 2026 state budget, the Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, had already announced that CP would purchase around 200 trains in the coming years.
Miguel Pinto Luz stated that the Government was preparing the "legislative process for the purchase of trains for the future high-speed lines. This is the largest purchase of trains ever in our country. In total, we are talking about around 200 new trains that will arrive at rail operator CP".
On 18 December, CP received the first of 22 new regional trains manufactured by Switzerland-based rail vehicle construction company, Stadler, an order placed in 2020 during António Costa's second government, which will enter into service in the second half of 2026 on the regional service on the West and Alentejo lines.
The train is part of an order for 22 new trains from Stadler, of which 12 are dual-mode (electric and diesel traction) and 10 are electric, placed in 2020 for €158 million.
On 19 December, the government announced the negotiation of a further 36 new regional trains for CP, which will join the 22 already ordered.
CT/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
