Euskadi will lead the development of a new European high-speed train, spearheaded by Talgo, through the BasqTrain 35 project, focusing on sustainable and modular mobility. This initiative addresses European rail fragmentation, where trains are manufactured for state-specific markets, hindering cross-border movement and increasing production costs.
The project aims to generate over 140 highly skilled jobs in Euskadi with an investment of 105 million euros over three years, of which 78 million will be allocated to R&D. The Talgo-led project will drive 12 Basque companies, 10 of them SMEs, and will collaborate with the MAFEX cluster and various technology centers from the Basque Network of Science, Technology, and Innovation, led by CEIT.
The presentation event was attended by the General Deputy of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe; the Minister of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi; and the President of Talgo, José Jainaga, among other authorities.
Etxanobe highlighted: “Today we are discussing more efficient trains, new materials, digitalization, and solutions for more sustainable mobility. And also, where this knowledge will be developed, where these decisions will be made, and what opportunities our young people will find. We want them to find worthwhile projects here. That they can participate from Bizkaia, from Euskadi, in the development of technologies that will be used throughout Europe”.
Minister Mikel Jauregi stated that the sustainable mobility sector is a driving force ('Irabazi') of the Plan de Industria – Euskadi 2030, and that this project aims to advance the development of proprietary high-speed technologies. Euskadi possesses the industrial and technological capabilities to develop the next generation of trans-European high-speed trains.
The President of TALGO, José Antonio Jainaga, said: “We are leading the BASQTRAIN 35 project, a major transformative initiative involving a significant number of companies from the Basque industrial, technological, and scientific value chain, to reinforce Euskadi's high-speed rail leadership. We must continue innovating to compete in a global market and be among the best market players”.
Ingeteam will develop solutions for the next-generation trains, contributing its expertise in power electronics, control, and energy management. The project will enable advancements in distributed traction systems and new control and monitoring technologies, improving energy efficiency, reducing weight, and optimizing the space and maintenance of high-speed trains.
Out of the 25 current Transformative Projects, 19 have already been launched: 8 led by the private sector and 11 by the public sector. In total, the Transformative Projects of the Plan de Industria – Euskadi 2030 mobilize an initial investment exceeding 965 million euros, and more than 3,990 jobs will be created.
