Alstom's industrial plant in Barcelona will manufacture the largest-ever train order of the Spanish railways

The French company Alstom, a leader in the transport sector, secured a significant order from Renfe, Spain's national railway company, to manufacture a fleet of 201 high-capacity trains for the Rodalies and Cercanías services. Alstom will carry out the production in its well-established industrial center in Barcelona, a strategic hub in the company's European network.

This significant purchase represents the largest train order in the history of the Spanish railways. With a total production cost of 1,800 million euros, the contract also includes the maintenance of 56 vehicles over 15 years. Alstom's involvement in this landmark project reinforces its expertise in this field and consolidates Barcelona's position as a major manufacturing center in Spain and Europe.

Yesterday, the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez, and the President of Renfe, Raül Blanco, accompanied by the President of Alstom Spain and Portugal, Leopoldo Maestu, visited Alstom's industrial center in Santa Perpetua de Moguda, Barcelona. There, they learned the details of the design of the 201 high-capacity trains that the operator had ordered from the manufacturer.

This workload has made it necessary for Alstom to increase its workforce at the Santa Perpètua (Barcelona) industrial center, one of the group's most important in Europe. In this sense, the manufacturer hired 200 new professionals last year, who will be joined by another 150 workers in 2023. 

Renfe's commitment to Alstom Spain also translates into an increase in indirect employment in Catalonia, as the manufacturer has more than 325 local suppliers and allocates 200 million euros a year in purchases from Catalan suppliers.

The first three trains are currently being manufactured, and the validation and certification process will begin in 2024. After that period, serial production of the remaining 198 units will begin, with 3 to 4 trains delivered to Renfe each month.

The new trains, each with 6 cars (4 low-floor and 2 double-deck), will have a capacity of more than 900 passengers. The 12 doors on each side, evenly distributed along the train, improve station dwell time by speeding up passenger flow and increasing suburban networks' transport capacity. In addition, the future trains, which will be fully accessible to people with reduced mobility, will have spaces for PRM chairs and multifunctional spaces for bicycles, suitcases, baby carriages, and more.

Sources: Alstom and Renfe