Spain’s transport minister: our next high-speed fleet may be Chinese
There is growing concern in Spain’s railway sector after transport minister Óscar Puente announced that he will travel to China to explore the possibilities of acquiring new high-speed trains.
He made the remark during his 27 November speech at Rail Live in Madrid, where he also said he will visit Italy as part of a wider review ahead of Spain’s next rolling-stock tender in early 2026.
Puente framed the China and Italy visits as part of a broader supplier review, following an earlier stop at Siemens in Germany. He argued that operational urgency should outweigh protectionist instincts as demand on Spain’s high-speed network rises.
Spain’s domestic suppliers face their own pressures. Talgo’s Avril fleet — intended to add capacity on key long-distance routes — has suffered delays that have undermined confidence in the national supply chain.
From keynote to sector unease
Rail Live — Spain’s main annual rail conference, organised by Terrapinn together with ADIF, Renfe and the transport ministry — has become a venue for major announcements.
“I recently visited Siemens in Germany; I will go to China in a few days and then to Italy — and we have to make a decision about our next high-speed trains”
Óscar Puente told the audience at Rail Live in Madrid on 27 November 2025.
Puente’s comments drew immediate attention: several Spanish business media report concern over certification demands, competition and the impact on domestic factories if China enters the tender process.
Any Chinese-built trains would need to go through Spain’s full certification: homologation, safety validation and interoperability tests. The ministry’s willingness to examine the option already changes industry expectations for the 2026 tender.
Parallel in Austria
Spain is not alone in weighing non-European suppliers. In Austria, Westbahn’s decision to use CRRC-built trains triggered criticism from unions and policymakers, highlighting the industrial and political tensions involved.
Whether Spain moves in that direction remains open. For now, the China trip shows the government is expanding its review of potential suppliers — with implications beyond this specific tender.
Why it matters: Spain operates one of Europe’s largest high-speed networks; supplier choices carry system-wide impact. If a major high-speed rail nation like Spain includes China among its options, the move could influence rolling-stock decisions beyond Spain.