striking remark from Xavier Flores, the Secretary General for Infrastructure in Santander, set the tone this week as a new working group began its task to monitor the design and production of future trains for the metric track network. The discussion highlighted a long-standing tension: the idea that trains might be smaller than expected or even larger than tunnels can accommodate. Transport, a Basque company, has been at the center of debates since the contract for modern trains entered a period of scrutiny after significant questions about the 31 trains delivered around mid-2020. The exchanges focused on whether the dimensions of the trains would align with the tunnel profiles used across Cantabria and Asturias, with officials presenting evolving interpretations of what is necessary to fit the network.
Ministry on Feve scandal: smaller trains, larger tunnels, or the reverse
During the opening remarks, Flores signaled a shift in approach: the ministry should directly manage the Renfe contract with CAF, signaling a transition to renegotiating terms between the public operator and the concessionaire. Officials indicated a need for a detailed timetable to adjust and, if feasible, shorten production deadlines from the manufacturer.
Flores clarified that the public discussion intensified after it emerged that the trains already in service began production late in the process and the project had not progressed as expected. He reiterated a calm stance: no trains were built under the current plan, no public funds were wasted, and the European grant of 150 million euros tied to the contract remained intact. He acknowledged the ministry had to revise its view, noting that the project would face a delay of about two years due to the original implementation period of 45 months, with delivery now projected for 2026 though negotiations seek the shortest feasible timeline. In addition, he conceded that rising material costs could push the total beyond the initial tender of 196.3 million euros.
The core issue described was how the train design should match the net of the Feve network. Flores argued for a design mindset that treats the train like a tailored suit, capable of operating through a diverse tunnel landscape where typologies vary in size. He acknowledged that the current methodology, applied across varying widths and clearance standards, created a mismatch between the proposed trains and tunnel spaces. The situation, he noted, has been the source of humor but also of serious concern because demands exceeded the previous criteria and standardization across the network was incomplete.
The question of why progress stalled since CAF first flagged a size mismatch in March 2021 remained. A solution discussed earlier that year involved a comparative method that effectively copied the largest train circulating on Feve to guide future designs. Flores referred to that period as a technical discussion rather than a decisive action, suggesting that there might be alternative approaches that could move the project forward.
When Flores assessed what had happened, he admitted uncertainty about the timing and awareness in Cantabria and Asturias. He indicated that clarifications might be needed, but a final decision had not been made, and thus no formal disclosure had occurred at that time.
Alejandro Calvo, minister of Rural Affairs for the Principality, urged administrations to compress deadlines while recognizing the need to learn from past oversights tied to decades of uncertain support for the Feve network. He emphasized that while the situation is regrettable, it offers a chance to establish clearer governance and a more reliable path forward.
Jose Luis Gochicoa, Cantabria’s minister of Public Works, underscored three positive takeaways from Flores’s remarks: the contract would not be re-tendered but redesigned, budget coverage was secured, and the working group would operate with ongoing expertise and discipline. The opening session of the group took place at the Government Delegation in Cantabria, with the State Railway Safety Agency represented by its director general, and the management teams from Adif and Renfe in attendance. Cantabria’s government was represented by higher officials including the deputy minister of infrastructure, and regional delegates participated as well. The gathering brought together leaders from both Cantabria and Asturias to align on a shared path forward for the metric track network project. (Citations: discussions with government officials and agency representatives)