Portugal railway updates: CP high-speed tender and Seixal capacity demands

Portugal's national railway operator, CP - Comboios de Portugal, has announced a tender for the procurement of twelve high-speed trains, with an option to purchase an additional eight. The contract, valued at a base price of 500 million euros, includes maintenance services and involves pre-qualified bidders Alstom from France and Talgo from Spain. The first trains are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2031, following a contract signing in early 2027.

Separately, in the Seixal region, local authorities are calling for increased rail capacity to address chronic overcrowding. Paulo Silva, the Mayor of Seixal, has criticized the current plans for the Fertagus service, stating that the arrival of only two new carriages scheduled for 2027 is insufficient to meet the high demand of commuters traveling to Lisbon. Silva emphasized the urgent need for more rolling stock to alleviate pressure on the South Bank's transport network.