EIB in €350m Adif loan for high-speed Spanish rail

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Adif AV have signed a €350 million loan to invest in “conventional and high-speed railway infrastructure” in Spain.

The EIB said investments will target safety, sustainability and resilience, as well as renovation works and general improvements.

“As a result of this investment, a important number of projects will be undertaken across the country,” said the EIB.

“This will improve the quality of services and make railway transport more attractive, furthering the use of more sustainable transport means.

“Total investments supported by the project amount to over €830 million in investment. This will be used to update key components of the railway infrastructure, the upgrading of communications systems through interoperable technologies and the implementation of plans to improve resilience when operational and climate-related issues arise, minimising potential traffic disruptions.”

Adif AV is an entity belonging to Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

The cooperation with the EIB is essential for Adif and Adif AV to continue to promote railways as a sustainable and resilient means of transport at the heart of the new mobility model demanded by the citizens,” said Pedro Marco de la Peña, President of Adif and Adif AV.

“The loan … will enable us to maintain the highest quality standards already offered by our railway network to users, through a range of renovation and upgrading measures for the different railway systems.”

EIB Director General and Head of EU Lending and Advisory Jean-Christophe Laloux said: “This new financing agreement with Adif – a strategic partner for the EIB – will enable important investments to be made in Spanish railway infrastructure, reinforcing its safety, resilience and sustainability.

“A safe and reliable rail network is essential to maintain the attractiveness of railways over more polluting forms of transport, with clear benefits for the economy and the environment.”