Spain pushes for faster rolling stock approval across EU
EU: Spain’s transport minister has warned that the manufacture, delivery and commissioning of new rolling stock can take six to seven years — and proposed concrete fixes at an informal meeting of European transport ministers in Nicosia.
Óscar Puente made the remarks at the Informal Council of Transport Ministers in Nicosia on 29 April, warning that the timeline is a structural obstacle to fleet renewal across the bloc.
The call puts EU-level pressure on a process that currently sits with national safety authorities and the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA).
Three causes, three proposals
Puente’s diagnosis aligned with ERA’s own assessment: fragmented regulation, excessively slow procedures, and a rolling stock industry with limited capacity to fulfil orders.
His proposals were correspondingly direct. He called for greater regulatory awareness among industry and authorities, stronger and more reliable independent assessments to support national safety bodies, and expanded dedicated testing infrastructure.
On the last point, Spain has its own case in hand. Puente referenced the test circuit in Antequera, Málaga — a facility first tendered in 2013 and halted after the procurement failed to attract bids, and announced for revival in July 2025.
No decisions, but common ground
The Nicosia meeting was informal and carried no decision-making powers. Puente described the exchange as productive and said he found common ground with ERA’s position on the problem.
“It is gratifying to find common ground with the European Railway Agency’s vision,” he said. “Today we have reason for optimism.”
Next steps were not formalised. Puente expressed hope that the improvements could be addressed in subsequent ministerial sessions