Summary
EU transport procurement is one of the most capital-intensive segments of the public market. The revised TEN-T Regulation (2024/1679/EU) extended the core network completion deadline to 2030 and added new requirements for multimodal hubs, urban nodes, and alternative fuel infrastructure β creating a defined, funded pipeline of transport infrastructure procurement running through the decade. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) mandates EV charging and hydrogen refuelling deployment at defined intervals across TEN-T core and comprehensive networks. Zero Emission Vehicle procurement for public transport fleets is accelerating under the Clean Vehicles Directive. Rail electrification, ERTMS deployment, and rolling stock renewal generate multi-billion procurement volumes annually. This briefing covers the complete EU transport procurement landscape for 2026: sector by sector, with CPV codes, key procuring entities, and bid strategy.
TEN-T Core Network and CEF Funding
The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is the EU's strategic framework for transport infrastructure investment. The revised TEN-T Regulation (2024/1679/EU) defines a three-tier network structure: the Core Network (highest priority, 2030 deadline), the Extended Core Network (new tier added in 2024 revision, 2040 deadline), and the Comprehensive Network (2050 deadline). Core Network corridors β Rail Baltica, Baltic-Adriatic, Rhine-Danube, Scandinavian-Mediterranean, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Orient/East-Med, North Sea-Baltic, North Sea-Mediterranean, and Rhine-Alpine β all have active procurement programmes in 2026.
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2021β2027 provides β¬23.9 billion for TEN-T transport projects (plus a β¬6.5 billion defence envelope). CEF funds co-finance national and cross-border infrastructure investments, with grants covering 20β50% (or up to 85% for cross-border priority projects) of eligible costs. CEF-funded projects procure through national infrastructure authorities β GDDKiA (Poland), ΔSD/SΕ½DC (Czech Republic), MΓV (Hungary), CFR (Romania), VinziePrΔ«vΔtceΔΌi (Latvia) β generating TED contract notices for civil works, electrification, signalling, and bridge and tunnel construction.
Rail Procurement: Rolling Stock, Electrification, and ERTMS
Rail is the largest sub-sector of EU transport procurement by contract value. Three major procurement streams run concurrently in 2026:
Rolling stock renewal: Public rail operators across Europe are in active fleet renewal programmes β replacing diesel fleets with electric multiple units (EMUs) and electric locomotives, and procuring hydrogen and battery trains for non-electrified routes. Major current programmes include Deutsche Bahn's ICE 3neo and IC5 orders; SNCF's TGV M (Avelia Horizon) programme; Trenitalia's ETR 1000 (Frecciarossa 1000) and regional fleet renewal; PKP Intercity's express and intercity fleet upgrade in Poland; and multiple Baltic state and CEE regional fleet procurements supported by CEF funding. Rolling stock is procured under the Utilities Directive (TSOs are utilities under 2014/25/EU) and must comply with Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) β LOC&PAS TSI, WAG TSI, INF TSI β which set harmonised technical requirements across EU rail networks.
ERTMS deployment: The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS/ETCS) is being deployed across TEN-T core network lines to replace fragmented national signalling systems. ERTMS deployment generates procurement for trackside equipment (RBCs, balises, axle counters), on-board ETCS units for rolling stock retrofit, control centres, and engineering services. The European Deployment Plan mandates ERTMS on all TEN-T core network lines by 2030 β creating a defined procurement pipeline that is now in active execution across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and CEE.
Electrification: Several EU member states still have significant non-electrified rail routes on TEN-T networks. Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and the Baltic states have active electrification programmes supported by Cohesion Fund and CEF funding β procuring design services, catenary systems, traction power substations, and civil works.
CPV codes for rail: 34620000 (freight wagons), 34622000 (passenger-train coaches), 34622100 (tram rolling stock), 34631000 (railway or tramway parts), 45234100 (railway construction), 45234116 (railway track construction), 45234200 (cable railway construction).
Road and Urban Mobility Procurement
Road infrastructure procurement in 2026 is dominated by motorway and national road network maintenance, upgrade, and new construction β primarily in CEE states using Cohesion Fund allocations. The largest programme volumes are in Poland (GDDKiA via A and S-road network expansion), Romania (CNAIR motorway programme), Czech Republic (ΕSD), Hungary (NIF), and Slovakia. Road procurement uses CPV codes 45233000 (road construction), 45233100 (motorway construction), 45233140 (roadway works).
Urban mobility procurement is being transformed by the Clean Vehicles Directive (2019/1161/EU), which sets mandatory minimum percentage targets for zero-emission and clean vehicles in public procurement of buses, light commercial vehicles, and trucks. From 2026, the mandatory minimum for clean heavy-duty urban buses is 45% (rising to 65% from 2027). This is driving rapid procurement of zero-emission buses (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell) by urban public transport authorities across the EU. BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) infrastructure procurement, EV charging depot installation, and smart mobility management systems are associated procurement categories.
Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR)
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR, 2023/1804/EU), which replaced the previous AFID Directive, sets binding deployment targets for EV charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure on the TEN-T network. Key AFIR requirements applicable from 2025β2026: EV charging pools of minimum 400 kW (on core TEN-T) every 60 km; hydrogen refuelling stations at minimum 200 kg/day at all major TEN-T nodes; shore-side electricity supply at major maritime and inland waterway ports; and external power supply for stationary aircraft at major airports.
AFIR compliance is primarily the responsibility of member states and infrastructure managers, generating public procurement for: roadside charging installation and civil works; charging network management software and cloud platforms; hydrogen refuelling station construction and commissioning; port electrical infrastructure upgrade; and airport fixed electrical ground power systems. Public concession procedures β distinct from standard procurement tenders β are often used for roadside charging infrastructure deployment, with operators granted long-term exclusive concessions in exchange for meeting deployment obligations.
Aviation and Maritime Procurement
Airport infrastructure procurement is a significant but specialised segment. Major European airports are predominantly public-private in ownership but procure infrastructure β terminal extensions, runway resurfacing, ground equipment, security systems, IT infrastructure β through competitive tender. The EU's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation mandating sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending from 2025 is driving procurement of fuel storage and blending infrastructure. Air traffic management modernisation under SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) continues to generate procurement for digital towers, remote tower systems, and trajectory-based operations equipment.
Maritime port procurement is governed by port authority regulations and EU State Aid rules alongside standard procurement law. The EU's FuelEU Maritime regulation and AFIR shore-side electricity requirements are driving procurement for port electrical infrastructure, onshore power supply (OPS) systems, and LNG and hydrogen bunkering facilities. Key CPV codes: 45241000 (harbour construction), 34510000 (ships), 34930000 (maritime equipment).
Key Takeaways
- TEN-T core network completion (2030 deadline) and CEF 2021β2027 (β¬23.9B) define the transport infrastructure procurement pipeline; Rail Baltica, ERTMS deployment, and CEE motorway programmes are the largest active contract volumes.
- Rolling stock renewal β EMUs, hydrogen trains, battery trains β and ERTMS trackside deployment generate multi-billion procurement annually; TSI compliance (LOC&PAS, WAG, INF) is a mandatory technical requirement.
- Clean Vehicles Directive mandates 45% zero-emission buses in public procurement from 2026 (rising to 65% from 2027) β creating a major procurement wave for BEV and hydrogen fuel cell bus suppliers and charging infrastructure.
- AFIR binding targets require EV charging pools every 60 km on TEN-T core network from 2025 β generating procurement for charging hardware, civil works, network management platforms, and hydrogen refuelling station construction.
- SAF blending mandates (ReFuelEU) and OPS shore-side electricity (AFIR) are driving aviation and maritime infrastructure procurement β specialised but substantial opportunity for infrastructure and energy technology suppliers.