Spain commits EUR 1 billion to overhaul Renfe maintenance network
Spain will invest EUR 1 billion between 2025 and 2030 to upgrade more than 60 Renfe train maintenance workshops nationwide, Transport Minister Óscar Puente has announced. The investment represents the largest maintenance programme in Renfe’s history and addresses critical fleet availability problems that led to more than 700 train cancellations during summer 2024.
The plan includes EUR 420 million for workshops already under construction or in planning, EUR 490 million for facilities under study, and EUR 295.6 million for improvements to existing infrastructure.
Major projects include the EUR 100 million Fuencarral II high-speed depot in Madrid, set to open before year-end, and a EUR 100 million programme for Catalonia covering new workshops in Ripoll, Manresa and Sant Andreu.
Digital maintenance model
The investment will introduce real-time condition monitoring systems, automatic track inspection equipment and digital operations management tools. Puente said digitalisation and process reorganisation will reduce workshop time by 29 percent, increasing fleet availability and service reliability.
The initiative follows a difficult summer 2024 when maintenance capacity proved insufficient. On some days more than 30 percent of Renfe’s fleet was in workshops, compared to a normal 20 percent. Heat and ageing rolling stock caused widespread air conditioning failures, with Catalonia particularly affected where nearly one in four trains were non-operational.
Why it matters: The programme sets a benchmark for European maintenance capacity investments and demonstrates how infrastructure funding can address operational reliability crises.
By the numbers:
- EUR 1 billion total investment
- More than 60 workshops nationwide
- 29% reduction in maintenance time
- Catalonia alone receives EUR 310 million
- Fuencarral II doubles Madrid’s standard-gauge maintenance capacity.