EIB Funds CAF’s Rail Innovations in Spain & Poland

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Introduction

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide Compañía Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) with an €80 million ($93.6 million) loan to support a research, development, and innovation (RD&I) program focused on mobility technologies. This funding will facilitate advancements in digitalization, autonomous mobility solutions, and energy efficiency for CAF’s trains and buses, with the RD&I investments taking place in Spain and Poland.

Funding and Program Scope

The EIB will provide CAF with an €80 million ($93.6 million) loan. This funding is earmarked for a research, development, and innovation (RD&I) program. The program’s focus is on mobility technologies, specifically targeting digitalization, autonomous mobility solutions, and improvements in energy efficiency for CAF’s trains and buses. The RD&I investments will be carried out in CAF’s centres located in Spain and Poland.

Strategic Context and Objectives

The project aligns with the EIB Group’s 2024-2027 Strategic Roadmap, which supports technological innovation, cohesion, and environmental sustainability. It is also part of the EIB Group’s TechEU initiative, which aims to accelerate innovation within the European Union (EU). The TechEU initiative seeks to mobilize €250 billion in investments by 2027 for startups, scale-ups, and innovative companies across Europe. The project aims to accelerate changes in the mobility sector, linking them to economic growth and emissions reduction. Additionally, it is intended to boost competitiveness in the EU’s industrial sector and address the market’s need for skilled workers in both urban and interurban transport.

Recent CAF Contracts

In May, CAF secured two maintenance contracts worth nearly €400 million ($453.3 million). One contract was in the UK, and the other was in Colombia. In the UK, CAF renewed its partnership with Northern Trains and Eversholt Rail to maintain Northern’s rolling stock fleet. In March, CAF signed a contract with the Syndicat des Mobilités de Touraine to provide 19 Urbos trams for the new Line II of the Tours tram network, which links La Riche and Chambray les-Tours. The agreement also includes the supply of depot components and specialized tools.

Timeline

The agreement between the EIB and CAF was signed on September 19, 2025.

Conclusion

The EIB is providing CAF with an €80 million loan to fund a research, development, and innovation program focused on mobility technologies. This project supports digitalization, autonomous mobility, and energy efficiency for trains and buses, with investments in Spain and Poland. This aligns with the EIB Group’s strategic goals and the TechEU initiative. CAF recently secured maintenance contracts in the UK and Colombia, and a tram contract in Tours.

Company Summary

Compañía Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF): A company focused on creating urban mobility solutions using trains and buses. CAF is set to carry out RD&I investments in Spain and Poland.

European Investment Bank (EIB): The EIB has signed an agreement with CAF to provide an €80m ($93.6m) loan to finance a research, development and innovation (RD&I) programme focused on mobility technologies.

Northern Trains: CAF renewed its partnership with Northern Trains in the UK.

Eversholt Rail: CAF renewed its partnership with Eversholt Rail in the UK.

Syndicat des Mobilités de Touraine: CAF signed a contract with the Syndicat des Mobilités de Touraine to provide 19 Urbos trams.

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