The French mobility company Transdev He gets on the train of railway liberalization in Spain where Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo are already fighting. This operator, one of the major players in the sector worldwide, is transforming its Spanish subsidiary with a view to participating in the next opportunities that the national market offers during the coming years, both in railway services and in the bus sector.
As this media has learned, the French company – present in 19 countries in Europe, America and Oceania – is proceeding to strengthen its structure in Spain in order to participate in the different competitive processes that the Central Government and the autonomous communities will carry out over the next decade, and which are already beginning to be in the design phase. At the same time, negotiates a partnership with large international funds to face the significant outlay necessary to acquire new high-speed trains.
Asked about his plans, Transdev’s implementation director, José Luis Lombardi claims to be following the Spanish mobility market “closely,”examining in particular possible business opportunities“, a task they carry out “in the same way as in the other 18 countries in which we are present.”
Contests in sight
The Ministry of Transportation has yet to specify the deadlines for give entry to new competitors on several high-speed routes still monopolized by Renfe. The Mediterranean Corridor or those that link Madrid with Galicia, Asturias, Cádiz, Huelva and Granada are some of the cities that expect to receive trains from companies other than the state monopoly in the near future.
However, the time horizon initially managed by the department led by Óscar Puente, which included “after summer” as the date to launch the process, seems to have been postponed sine die due to lack of visibility about when the works being undertaken in part of the network will be completed.
Also in 2026 a pilot tender that will put out to competition certain services provided under the public service obligations (PSO) regime. Under this formula, the State finances the Commuter networks and Regional and Medium Distance services (including high-speed Avant) that the state company operates today.
But the European standard requires that 3% of the network will be opened to competition before 2027which would translate into the tender for a small package of medium-distance services, or failing that, a Cercanías hub other than Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia. To this we must add the new bus concession maps that are in tender in regions such as Madrid or Andalusia, where foreign actors have joined the interest already confirmed by companies such as Alsa or Avanza.
Participate in the Barcelona tram
Transdev, controlled by Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations French (66%) and the German group Rethmann (34%), has been active in Spain for two decades as a member of the consortium of companies that manages the Barcelona tram network (Tram).
It has a 5.54% stake in the service concessionaires and a 66% stake in the operators of the different Barcelona Tram routes. This network will undergo a notable transformation in December, when the new Diagonal Avenue link will be launched, which predictably predicts an increase in the number of travelers and a boost in its operating figures.
The French firm also participated in the shareholding of Metropolitano de Tenerifeselling its 8.5% stake to the Tenerife Cabildo in 2017. Likewise, it worked on the pre-operation of the Murcia Tram and the Madrid West Light Metro.
Outside the Spanish borders, Transdev is known for operating up to 31 local rail services in France, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, the United States and New Zealand. It is also in charge of the trams of 20 cities, the subways of Asian cities such as Seoul or Mumbai; and was chosen as the virtual operator of the six new Paris suburban lines. Besides, broke SNCF’s regional monopoly in France by winning the regional service (TER) between Marseille and Nice from 2025 to 2035, a victory that it intends to repeat in Portugal, where it also wants to operate.
Expands its team in Spain
At the end of September, the French company restructured the leadership of its Spanish subsidiary, Transdev Division Spain SLappointing its CEO for Europe, Antoine Grange, as president, replacing Pierre Jaffard, until then in charge of Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries.
He also incorporated the current general director for Spain and Morocco, Benoit Jaby, as an advisor. In recent months, the company has also added profiles from companies in the sector such as Ouigo or Alsafrom where, among others, the aforementioned implementation director, José Luis Lombardi, arrived.
Joins the interest of Alsa-EcoRail and SNCF-Ouigo
Like the bidding for the first round of framework agreements that Adif resolved in 2020 and have given rise to the current operations of Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo, the competitive outing of proximity services has begun. attract the attention of large transport operators of the continent.
Renfewhich has focused its strategy on preserving the OSP services that it currently operates by order of the Government, will face the largest bus company in Spain. Bus partnered with the Andalusian company EcoRail to enter high speed, but also admits its interest in operating suburban and regional trains, which do not require the purchase of new motor material.
The French state giant will join them SNCFwhich already operates in Spain with its subsidiaries Ouigo and SNCF Voyageurs. The incorporation of Transdev into the contest would allow, at least, two companies with totally private capital choose to manage these servicescurrently in the hands of large state companies.
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