Portuguese state operator CP has launched an international tender to procure 12 high-speed trainsets for the future Lisbon–Porto line, with a maximum budget of €504 million. Each unit must be capable of reaching 300 km/h and offering at least 500 seats.
The tender specification awards maximum marks to articulated trainsets fitted with two-axle bogies and a 2+2 seating layout in standard class. Under these conditions, the only rolling stock currently available on the market is Alstom’s Avelia Horizon — designated TGV-M by French operator SNCF.
The contract also includes an option for eight additional trainsets, which could bring the total investment to approximately €840–850 million. The new trains will be built to Iberian gauge (1,668 mm), adapted to Portugal’s future high-speed network.
The procurement process will be conducted in two stages: an initial pre-qualification round followed by the submission of full bids. Price will account for 25% of the overall evaluation score, with technical criteria — including energy efficiency, maintenance requirements and onboard equipment — taking priority.
The contract is scheduled to enter into force in April 2027, with the first trainset to be delivered in 2031, subject to penalty clauses for late delivery. Thereafter, one unit per month is to be supplied.
The tender requires bidders to demonstrate prior experience operating trains at 300 km/h on the European network, which significantly narrows the field of potential competitors. This procurement marks a milestone after more than five years of delays to Portugal’s high-speed rail programme.