Portuoals train factory to be In Ovar RAILWAY II Portuguese multinational Salvador Caetano has teamed up with Swiss train manufacturer Stadler to construct the train factory promised by infrastructure minister João Galamba la st month. A "strategic agreement" has already been signed, with the main activity of the project to go ahead in Ovar, and a maintenance facility to be constructed in Guifõ e s, Matosinhos. As of yet a value for this investment has not been revealed. But the first order is for 117 new trains for CP (Comboios de Portugal) - an entity crying out for upgraded stock, and currently beset by strikes. João Galamba suggested in March that the factory would create up to 1,000 jobs Stadler is also one of the bidders for the tender for the 117 trains, s et at EUR819 million. Other companies in the running are the Franco-Luso Alstom/DST consortium and Spains CAF. Ina joint statement, the two companies say their agreement should "give a considerable boost to the Portuguese railway industry" by accelerating "the participation of Portuguese companies in the supply of components for other industrial sectors". The outlook for the sector is also positive, with Salvador Caetano and Stadler pointing out that "the railway industry is one of the industries with the best long-term outlook given the importance of railways in future mobility," even in light of the decarbonisation of transport.