Talgo 230: the lightest option, the complete range

Intercity Talgo 230 trains travel tens of millions of kilometres in America, Europe and Asia every year. Talgo offers a wide array of solutions that can meet every need, since its trains can improve speed and performance on conventional tracks, running at up to 250 km/h wherever infrastructure allows.

Homologated worldwide

Talgo 230 offers operators maximum versatility with a fully customizable, wide range of options… also when it comes to traction and even the train capabilities along their lifecycle. This product can be fitted with locomotives furnished by Talgo and/or with cab-car, bogie-mounted passenger vehicles for push-pull operations. Our smart technology allows us to easily and cost-effectively upgrade conventional intercity trains into very high-speed units for a top speed of up to 330 km/h.​

By using an extruded aluminium structure for its trains, Talgo is able to manufacture the lightest passenger rolling stock in the world. The trains are typically 30% lighter than conventional vehicles, while these materials also ensure maximum safety and minimal resistance even when operating at 180-250 km/h. This translates in lower energy consumption and therefore lower environmental impact and reduced operating costs. Talgo’s exclusive Natural Tilting and Variable Track-gauge technologies are also available as an option.​

Fully-accessible as its entire train portfolio, Talgo 230 excels at guaranteeing the best possible experience for passengers: WiFi connectivity, at-seat infotaiment services, individual lighting and plug sockets, enlarged luggage room, dynamic modern and spacious WC, high-endurance HVAC (-50Cº to +50ºC), personal mobility area…​

Lighter cars with better results

By using an extruded aluminium structure for its trains, Talgo is able to manufacture the lightest passenger rolling stock in the world. The trains are typically 30% lighter than conventional vehicles, while these materials also ensure maximum safety and minimal resistance even when operating at 180-250 km/h.

  • Lower energy consumption
  • Lower environmental impact
  • Lower operation costs

The most accesible long-distance train

Talgo’s self-guiding axles aren’t just lighter and more efficient, they’re also the reason why Talgo can build trains with lower floors and without any internal barriers through the entire train. This means that passengers can board and disembark the train without having to go up and down stairs.

    • • Optimal passenger mobility within the train.
    • • Platform-level access along the entire train.
    • • Passengers board and disembark without having to use stairs.
    • • Reduces stop times by 50% at stations.
    • • Passengers with reduced mobility can access train unaided.

Total control and scalability

Talgo 230 offers train operators maximum versatility with a fully customizable, wide range of options… also when it comes to train traction and even the train capabilities along their lifecycle. This product can be fitted with locomotives furnished by Talgo and/or with cab-car, bogie-mounted passenger vehicles for push-pull operations.

An that is not all. Talgo smart technology allows us to easily and cost-effectively upgrade conventional intercity trains into very high-speed units for a top speed of up to 330 km/h, whenever the client decides so.

  • Cab-car, bogie-mounted passenger coaches
  • Wholly designed & manufactured locomotives, 100 % Talgo
  • Easily upgradable to very-high speed: 330 km/h

Self guiding wheel system

The Talgo self-guiding rodals (Talgo trucks) not only reduce the number of axles on a train – most cars only have one – but they follow the movement of the lead bogie’s axle box due to the use of self-guiding technology, allowing the train to smoothly follow the path of the tracks. This technology reduces wheel and infrastructure wear, which in turn leads to maintenance cost savings.

  • Less stressin vehicle and track interaction
  • Improved safety: no flange climbing tendencies
  • Lower maintenance costsand increased reliability
  • Less track wear
  • Makes the most of structure gauge
  • Lower aerodynamic losses, and
  • More comfort:less noise and vibrations

Automatic gauge changeover

Talgo trains can be fitted with a unique variable gauge system that allows them to run on different networks without losing significant time at gauge-changing stations. Talgo’s system can adjust to any type of track and is suitable for any type of axle.

  • Gauge change without having to stop the train
  • All kinds of track gauge: standard, broad and narrow
  • System adaptable to all types of axles: Rodals (Talgo truck) with independent wheels, non-driving and driving bogies
  • Proven efficiency: tens of thousands of operations each year

Maximum operability

By taking advantage of natural tilting in curves, and with the capability to use on-board auxiliary generators, Talgo 230 can offer railway operators a wide range of options to supply a train that will meet their specific requirements.

  • Natural tilting to increase speeds in curves and improve passenger comfort
  • Maximum speeds of up to 250 km/h with certain upgrades on any track gauge
  • Designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -50ºC to 50ºC
  • Fire detection and extinction systems, geolocation (GPS, GLONASS), and closed circuit television (CCTV)
  • Electric range of up to 12 hours without a locomotive, thanks to the auxiliary generators: passengers do no perceive the change in traction and on-board services are guaranteed in the event of a fire

The best on-board experience

Talgo 230 is designed with the client in mind, and are fully adaptable to the specific demands of each operator. After all, only the best features can guarantee the best experience for passengers.

  • Wi-Fi access on every car
  • At-seat infotainment services
  • Individual lights and plug socket in every seat
  • High-range air conditioning
  • Fully adapted solutions for passengers with reduced mobility, thanks to its continuous, low-floor coaches at platform height
  • Large luggage compartments with sufficient room for large items such as skis and bicycles
  • Modern and spacious WC, designed for easy maintenance
  • At-seat catering service

A range with dozens of possibilities

The aforementioned features allow Talgo 230 to offer the most versatile range of cars available on the market today, for day as well as for overnight services. The railway operator can customise the configuration of its fleet by choosing from dozens of options, and even modify them according to seasonal requirements.

Here are just a few of the configuration options available:

Cars for day-time services:

  • Standard (economy class); Standard with WC; Standard end car; Standard with bicycle area; Standard adapted to passengers with reduced mobility; Standard 3+2 (five seats per row); Standard 3+2 with WC
  • First class car; First class with WC; First class adapted for passengers with reduced mobility
  • Club Car; Car with super-reclining seats (ASPR)
  • Bar-Buffet car; Bar-Buffet with WC; Bar-Buffet adapted for passengers with reduced mobility; Restaurant car; Restaurant car adapted for passengers with reduced mobility
  • Converter power-car (adapts electric power from the power head for internal use); Converter power-car + freight
  • Diesel generator power-car (independent electrical power supply)

Cars for night-time services:

  • Car with super-reclining seats (ASPR); Standard Sleeping car: four berths per cabin; Single Sleeping car: two berths per cabin
  • Grand Class Car: two berths and WC per cabin
  • Freight car; Freight car + luggage area
  • Converter power-car (adapts electric power from the power head for internal use); Converter power-car + freight
  • Diesel generator power-car (independent electrical power supply)
  • Bar-buffet with night-time service.
  • Restaurant car

Intercity Experiences Around the World

Projects

The New Golden Age of Conventional Trains

The economic leader of the world´s first common-currency union is also at the head of a most ambitious project Western Europe has ever embarked upon: decarbonization. Under this initiative, Germany set the target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030, as compared to the 1990 levels. And the importance of Talgo´s ICE L trains in the achievement of this task, designed to address and tackle the ongoing climate change, cannot be underestimated.

Environmental Goals

In a country with one of the busiest rail networks in the world, where high speed is more exception than rule, reliable, fully-accessible and totally interoperable long-distance conventional trains are the key to the successful accomplishment of the environmental goals. DB chose Talgo, because our trains are a feasible alternative to flying.

The new trains based on the Talgo 230 platform are referred to by the German operator Deutsche Bahn as ICE L, indicating unambiguously their main advantage: Intercity Express, with the L standing for “low-floor”.

Contract Without Precedent

To reinforce its fleet in this new decarbonization scenario, Deutsche Bahn purchased from Talgo long-distance units for the existing conventional routes, with the intention to improve both travel times and passenger comfort levels. In the highly competitive international bid, completed in 2019, Talgo became the only winner awarded a big frame contract for the supply of approximately 100 railway units worth of 2,300 million euros.
Within the above-mentioned agreement, DB immediately placed the first firm order of 23 trainsets for the amount of 550 million euros. These are currently being manufactured.

Later on May 2023—and within the same agreement—the German federal railway company confirmed a new order for another 56 new Talgo 230 trains worth 1,400 millions euros, the largest order in Talgo’s history.

Talgo Locomotives

The new DB train is a self-propelled multiple unit. Its configuration is quite common for Germany, including a conventional locomotive at one of the train ends pushing or pulling according to the direction of travel, 16 intermediate non-powered passenger cars and another trailer car at the opposite end of the unit provided with a driver´s cab. From the latter, commands are sent to the locomotive when in the pushing mode.

Under the contract, Talgo designs, builds and supplies to DB multi-voltage electric locomotives with a maximum operating speed of 230 km/h, fully compatible with different electrification and signaling systems.

These will enable the new trains to run not only on the German rail network, but to cross borders and operate in the neighboring countries. ICE L versatile design will also allow DB to use them with diesel locomotives when required and, therefore, always to the best advantage.

Up to the Highest Technicals Demands

To face the challenge, Talgo offered Deutsche Bahn its modular platform Talgo 230, a comprehensive transport solution specifically designed for conventional lines on the basis of the loco-hauled trains which had shown superior performance with the index of reliability close to 99% during their operation in countries with the most diverse technical requirements, such as the USA and Germany.

Talgo´s extensive experience in the manufacture of interoperable trains and DB´s choice of a specialized platform conceived for long-distance conventional transportation services, with configurable interior design and lightweight technology, will allow the German operator to benefit from prior experience and obtain a reliable product certified and tested against the most rigorous and comprehensive standards worldwide: FRA´s norms in North America, GOST in CIS countries, and ERA´s technical specification for interoperability in the European Union, among others.

Travel to the Heart of Europe

Talgo ICE L, accommodating a total of 562 passengers per train, 85 in the first- and 477 in the second-class cars, are expected to operate mainly on the Berlin – Amsterdam line, currently in high demand and featuring a 2-hour service frequency. Their light weight and multi-system traction technology will allow to shorten the journey time on this route by approximately 30 minutes, so that passengers can get from the capital of Germany to the heart of the Netherlands in only 5 hours and 50 minutes, without the need for the train to stop at the border.

Due to their interoperability and increased capacity, Talgo ICE L are also expected to carry passengers to the main tourist destinations: the North Sea and the Alps. In summer 2024, Deutsche Bahn is planning to put them into service on the Westerland-Cologne, Westerland-Frankfurt-Karlsruhe, Westerland-Berlin and Oberstdorf-Cologne lines.

New Accesibility Standards

Talgo running gear technology allows to build trains with floors matching the height of standard railway platforms. The floor height is the same along the entire length of the train, enabling persons with disabilities to enter without assistance. Talgo ICE L is a zero-steps train, where accesses, aisles, passenger seats and the rest of the on-board facilities are at level with the platform.

This means wheelchair users will need no external aid to board and alight from the train, or to get to one of the three PRM seats (provided with adjustable height tables) or to the PRM WC. The train will have braille tactile directional signs.

Talgo ICE L will also offer easier and quicker access of passengers traveling with large-size baggage or baby carriages and strollers. Inside, passengers will move freely to any part of the train with no vertical gaps or other obstacles in their way.

Talgo ICE L is an absolutely new model for the German operator, since from now on, each train manufactured and delivered by Talgo to DB, shall be fully accessible and provided with at least several entrances specifically adapted to persons with disabilities.

ICE L from the inside

Talgo vehicles feature wider carbody, offering more space per passenger, if compared to the competition, which adds another advantage to the technological uniqueness of our rolling stock.
As for equipment, according to DB´s request, the new ICE L will provide facilities and characteristics similar to those offered on board the ICEs, namely, WiFi, variable illumination during daylight hours, more luggage room, bistro on board and real-time information displays. DB also decided to equip its ICE L with passenger seats specifically tailored to satisfy any customer demand. Exhaustive tests will be conducted on several models of the seat under real operating conditions with passengers so that DB can make the decision thereon.

Talgo cars have shorter passenger rooms and a modular design, easily adaptable to ski, bike or luggage storage racks, if needed. These can also be modified to include children play areas.

Technical Features

-Step-free access to all doors from standard platforms with a height of 760 mm
-Various lighting modes throughout the day
-Eight bicycle spaces on each train and a storage room for sports equipment (e.g. ski and snowboard racks)
-Information monitors in entryways and seating areas displaying real-time data
-Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment
-Onboard restaurant passenger car with bar and grouped seats
-Separate area for small children and families with a play area for children and storage spaces for strollers
-Spaces for three passengers in wheelchairs with height adjustable tables
-Storage for oversize luggage in every passenger car
-Selection of newly designed seats that have been tested in advance with passengers before being installed in all vehicles
-Length: 256 metres (of which locomotive 19.7 metres)
-Height of carriages: 3.6 to 3.8 metres
-Tare weight: 406 tonnes
-Number of axles: 24 (of which 4 on the locomotive)