The construction of the CAF trains for Renfe will be delayed by three years because the size of the originally planned train was excessive for the railway tunnels. In 2020, the contract with 31 trains and EUR 258 million was concluded between the company of Beasain (Gipuzkoa) and Renfe, the Spanish public railway operator. According to the contract, the first trains were to be produced by October 2024.

During the preparation of the project, CAF informed Renfe that there was a problem in the gauge that was not compatible with the planned trains. Although the problem has been made public over the past week, it appears that Renfe, CAF and Adif have been informed for months, as reported eldiario.es.

Contract modification

Renfe reports that it has reached an agreement with CAF to solve the problem, modifying the contract and amending the rules of Railway Safety in Spain. New trains will be built using the "comparative method", i.e. by taking as a model a train that already works. For the implementation of this system, CAF must contract a company specialising in it.

The Spanish Ministry of Development has pointed out that machines have not even begun to be built and that of the EUR 258 million no "cents" have been spent. However, for the construction of the trains of the new measures more money will have to be allocated, although the amount has not yet been specified.

For this reason, Adif and Renfe have dismissed a person, the Adif Inspection and Technology Officer and the Material Management Officer of the Renfe Technical and Operational Directorate.