TALGO is a Spanish company, leader in the design, manufacture and maintenance of high-speed trains. Today, TALGOreceived the final evaluation certificate of conformity of its very high speed train AVRIL, having passed two years of extensive testing on the high speed Spanish tracks. TALGO has invested more than 50 million euros throughout a period of eight years in the development of this new, faster, lighter and more efficient train which is adaptable to the needs of the operator.

During the testing, 102 technical features and functions were checked and verified, as required by the Technical Specification for Interoperability of the high speed trans-European rail system. Among other features, AVRIL’s records reached a “maximum sustained speed” of 363km/h through tracks of the same gauge and of 350 km/h through tracks of variable gauge during the speed tests. The new TALGO development was accredited on the 13th of May, according to schedule, and ends its final certification process today. Therefore, AVRIL is now ready for commercialization.

The very high speed train, AVRIL, has technical solutions never before applied and tested in a high-speed train, such as: a technology that enables a gauge change, which allows the train to travel through both high-speed rail tracks with the standard European width, as through the conventional Spanish rail tracks. It also offers wider coaches than those circulating in Europe, which provides very useful space for the travelers, highly superior to that of any other single story train.

Due to its construction with lighter materials, the AVRIL is the train that has the best power-to-weight ratio, lower CO2emissions, better sliding and lowers energy consumption. Being an efficient and high capacity train is extremely environmentally friendly.

In the words of TALGO’s president, Carlos de Palacio: “Nowadays, technological development must go hand in hand with environmental care to create both economically and energetically sustainable products. With the liberalization of the European market, rail operators will be forced to reduce their operating costs and the ratio of investment cost per passenger. It is due to this, that we wanted to anticipate the future of the rail industry by making AVRIL available throughout our country: a faster, lighter, more efficient and sustainable train that not only saves energy and maintenance costs for operators, but also further preserves the ecological spirit that governs our time and that of our future generations.”

AVRIL’s certification is not only a major milestone for TALGO, but also for the Spanish industry, being a train developed and manufactured entirely in Spain. Added to this is the technological development that has accompanied the Company during its more than 70 years of existence.

nvesting in technology

The new AVRIL train possesses TALGO’s unique technology, such as the changing of the tread’s width, applied for the first time to very high speed. The change of width allows the AVRIL to travel throughout the whole Spanish rail network, composed of both high-speed tracks with standard European width, as well as conventional Iberian gauge tracks. It therefore ensures high-speed interconnection of national sub-networks of different gauges, as well as international interconnection. This means that the AVRIL will be able to bring high speed to the Basque country, Galicia or Asturias before the high speed track is finished all the way, thus not having to build additional lanes for it.

Conceived as a multipurpose platform, it is able to adapt to different gauges with its reversible version of rolling or fixed and movable inner modularities. It is like this that a train adaptable to operator requirements has been built, with the aim of becoming a world reference in the railway sector.

The lightness of the materials used, along with TALGO’s own technical solutions, such as: shared and guided wheelset, low center of gravity and the construction with aluminum, among others, allow to have a train that weighs 100 tons less than other high-speed trains, therefore presenting the AVRIL as a train that is able to save in energy consumption and maintenance costs far below that of its competitors. This is done by exercising less weight on the track.

The new train offers the maximum accessibility, being the only train of its kind that does not require steps to get on or get off of the coaches, due to its floor being at the same level as the station’s platform. This allows for maximum comfort and safety for travelers and disabled passengers, who can access the train without assistance of any auxiliary element and reduces the time taken for the rise and drop-off of passengers at stations.

Among other technical solutions, AVRIL highlights the wide box, which manages to increase the interior space of the wagons to a maximum capacity well above the 365 passengers offered the previous generation of high-speed TALGO trains.

During the last few years, TALGO has opted for a strategy of internationalization that has enabled the company to open up to new markets as diverse as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan. TALGO led its unique technology through these markets, adapting to the various geographical conditions and incorporating these experiences to their know-how , thus maintaining its innovation with continuous improvement of its products.

 

About TALGO

TALGO S.A, is the leading company in design, manufacture and maintenance of light trains of high-speed. It has Industrial presence in seven countries Spain, Germany, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States. The company is recognized worldwide for its innovation capacity, distinctive and unique technology and reliability. TALGO is supplying trains on the high-speed project for the railway line “Haramain” between Mecca and Media in Saudia Arabia.

 

For more information:

Press contact:

Aída Prados

Email: aprados@estudiodecomunicacion.com

Phone number: +34 91 576 52 50