"The Cabinet Meeting today approved a plan to buy rolling stock for CP-Comboios de Portugal and has authorised the company to spread the charges over eight years, totalling €168.21 million," said the statement issued on Thursday.

At the press conference following Thursday's regular Cabinet Meeting, the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Pedro Marques - who had announced the plans on Wednesday in the city fo Elvas - said this was a "historic step for CP" as it is "the first time in about 20 years that CP will have a plan to buy new rolling stock."

According to the minister, "the need is clear to add rolling stock to regional lines," on which teh 22 new trains will be used, and the publci tender for which will be carried out between 2019 and 2026.