Construction begins this month on new electric commuter trains for Auckland, costing more than $500 million.
The work is being done in northern Spain at the main plant of CAF, which won the contract to build the 57 three-car units.
CAF and its predecessors have been in business for nearly a century. In the past 20 years, it has switched from being domestic manufacturer, to an international train builder.
After testing in Auckland, the first of the new trains are expected to be in service in early 2014.
Listen to more from Auckland correspondent Todd Niall in Spain