Tuesday Brief: Sweden cancels Stockholm–Narvik night train tender
Plus: Renfe leases ex-DB coaches to Leo Express for Prague–Munich / CAF wins EUR 300m commuter train deal in Serbia
Sweden cancels Stockholm–Narvik night train tender
SWEDEN: Trafikverket has cancelled its second tender for night train services to Upper Norrland after bids exceeded the financial framework, and will now assume responsibility for the risk associated with the ageing rolling stock.
The cancellation ends a competitive procurement that has failed twice. A direct award process will follow, with Trafikverket absorbing fleet risk to reduce operator exposure.
The current SJ agreement expires December 2026, leaving a narrow window for a new contract.
A separate rolling stock tender — 91 coaches and 10 locomotives — remains active, with an award decision expected shortly.
Renfe leases ex-DB coaches to Leo Express for Prague–Munich
CZECH REPUBLIC: Renfe Alquiler has signed a 15-year agreement to lease ex-Deutsche Bahn coaches to Czech operator Leo Express for the Prague–Czech corridor service launching in December 2026.
The coaches are RIC-compliant and rated to 200 km/h, covering the Czech portion of the route under an eight-daily-service PSO contract from 13 December 2026. A separate 10-year agreement covers three Talgo VI sets for a Prague–Bratislava service launching in April 2026.
CAF wins EUR 300m commuter train deal in Serbia
SERBIA: Spanish trainmaker CAF has signed a contract worth more than EUR 300m to supply 30 Civity electric multiple units to Serbian state operator Srbijavoz for Belgrade’s BG Voz suburban network.
The contract, concluded on 30 March 2026, covers 30 three-car units plus two years of maintenance. Each unit carries up to 546 passengers and replaces rolling stock nearing end of operational life on a network serving the Serbian capital’s suburbs.
National regulator: Spain’s rail network structurally favours Renfe
SPAIN: Spain’s competition regulator has found that the country’s mixed gauge network gives incumbent Renfe a structural advantage over open-access competitors Ouigo and Iryo.
The CNMC published its findings on 23 March, accepting submissions from all three operators and rolling stock manufacturers. The Spanish transport ministry has committed to delivering a cost-benefit analysis on gauge migration by 19 July 2026 — the first formal deadline on a question open-access operators have raised since liberalisation began.
Renfe tender: the delivery argument that backfired
COMMENTARY: Spain’s transport minister argued that Chinese production speed made CRRC a legitimate contender. The tender’s delivery criteria turned that argument against him.
The base order covers up to 40 trainsets at 350 km/h, valued at EUR 1.36bn. The first five must be in service within 40 months of contract award — a timeline that runs straight through ERA type authorisation, national safety approval and live infrastructure testing.
CRRC has never cleared that process for a high-speed train.
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