Portuguese state operator CP – Comboios de Portugal has commenced construction of a rolling stock manufacturing plant in Guifões (Matosinhos), linked to its contract with Alstom for the supply of 153 multiple units for urban and regional services.
The facility, spanning more than 20,000 m² and equipped with advanced production technology, will enable 81 units to be built domestically. The project is expected to create around 300 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect roles, strengthening Portugal’s rail industrial base.
The new plant will be integrated into the historic Guifões complex, active since 1990 as a maintenance depot, and is earmarked for future conversion into a CP workshop. The scheme supports fleet renewal, enhances national manufacturing capability, and reinforces rail’s role in sustainable mobility.
This development forms part of CP’s largest rolling stock investment programme, exceeding €1bn following the contract extension for an additional 36 trains. The new fleet — 98 urban and 55 regional units — is scheduled for delivery from 2029, featuring three-car formations, capacity for up to 450 passengers, step-free access, onboard Wi-Fi, and dedicated spaces for bicycles and wheelchairs.