Talgo AVRIL

Design

The train is intended to have a designed service speed of 330 km/h and a maximum speed of 380 km/h. It has front and rear power cars containing under-floor/over-roof equipment and 12 trailer cars in between the power cars, giving a total seating capacity comparable to those of an electric multiple unit rather than a locomotive-hauled train. The trailer cars have a length of 13 m.

Other details:

• The train is 3.2 m wide, allowing for a standard 3+2 seating arrangement
• Versions for fixed gauge (1,435 mm, 1,520 mm or 1,668 mm) and variable gauge are planned.
• The traction system is compatible with four voltages—25 kV 50 Hz, 15 kV 16.7 Hz, 3 kV DC, 1.5 kV DC. The final trains differ significantly from the prototype in design, without the characteristic duck-bill appearance. Initially planned to use ABB traction equipment, Talgo later opted for traction converters from Ingeteam and traction motors from TSA. Renfe's trains each have 11 toilets, 2 wheelchair spaces and display screens behind seats.

History

Talgo presented the Avril concept at the InnoTrans fair in Berlin in September 2010. The prototype, named G3, was approved in Spain on 13 May 2016, traveling more than 76,000 kilometers, and up to 363 km/h.

After several years of development and testing, the first order for Avril trains was placed in November 2016, when Spanish operator Renfe Operadora signed a €786.5 million contract for 15 standard-gauge train sets and 30 years of maintenance. In May 2017, Renfe Operadora ordered another 15 variable gauge train sets for €495 million, with the Avril's entry into service expected in 2021, which was later delayed to March 2024. Renfe sought €116 million in compensation from Talgo for the delays in delivery, later seeking an additional €50 million and €80,000 per day of delay beyond 1 April 2024.

A Talgo Avril train reached 360 km/h top-speed on the Ourense-Santiago de Compostela high-speed line on Iberian gauge as part of homologation testing.

In October 2019, Adif, the Spanish railway infrastructure manager, ordered a single variable gauge trainset for €39 million, designed to serve as a diagnostics train.

In 2023, French operator Le Train signed a €300 million contract for 10 train sets and 30 years of maintenance.

From 21 May 2024, Renfe schedules new AVE services to the Spanish regions of Asturias and Galicia, operated by variable gauge Talgo Avril trains. Those AVE services are replacing the previously Alvia services Madrid Chamartín-Gijón and Castellón de la Plana/Vinaros-Gijón via Oviedo in Asturias and the Alvia services Madrid-A Coruña and Madrid-Vigo via Santiago de Compostela, Vilagarcía de Arousa and Pontevedra in Galicia. In addition Talgo Avril will replace S-112 trains for the Avlo Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Valencia, Madrid–Alicante and Murcia–Madrid–Valladolid services.

Technical issues

Since the day of entry into service, the train has suffered numerous incidents, including power failures and software issues. On 5 August 2024, an Avlo train with 494 passengers was delayed for two hours in the Madrid Chamartín-Atocha tunnel due to a power failure. Interior temperatures rose to 40 °C, with passengers breaking windows for ventilation. Renfe issued an apology and blamed Talgo for the issues with the trains.

On 1 January 2025, the trains failed to start due to a software issue in the battery charging system, where it did not recognise the change in year. The issue was resolved the following day.

In July 2025, routine inspections uncovered cracks in the motor bogie of a power car on an Avlo train operating Madrid–Barcelona services. All five trains used for the service were withdrawn from operation. A lack of available spare parts led to the deployment of Class 102 and 103 trains as substitutes. Drivers reported experiencing vibrations and irregular movements at speeds up to 310 km/h. On 25 July 2025, a speed limit of 250 km/h was imposed on a 190 km section of the route for the Class 106 trains from Madrid-Atocha to a point near Calatayud.

Gallery

File:Talgo AVRIL.jpg|Talgo Avril concept at InnoTrans 2012 File:Talgo AVRIL de Renfe AVLO en Tres Cantos (Madrid)-Servicio Valladolid-Alicante en 2024.jpg|Train operating an Avlo service near Tres Cantos, Madrid File:Serie 106 de Renfe.jpg|Renfe Class 106 at Córdoba railway station, 2022 (before service entry)

Notes

References

1. (28 February 2025). "Network Statement 2026".
2. (27 July 2009). "Talgo's 380 km/h Avril train to take on the airlines". [[Railway Gazette International]].
3. "AVRIL: Maximum Capacity at High Speed, with Optimal Comfort".
4. "Talgo Avril Very High Speed Train". Railway Technology.
5. (2024-05-21). "Talgo Avril high-speed EMUs have entered service in Spain".
6. "Talgo Avril High-Speed Trains".
7. (24 September 2010). "Avril, tren español de "muy alta velocidad" (in Spanish)". 20minutos.
8. (2024-05-21). "Talgo Avril high-speed EMUs have entered service in Spain".
9. (28 November 2016). "Talgo wins Spanish high speed train order". Railway Gazette International.
10. (1 June 2017). "RENFE orders gauge-changing high speed trainsets". Railway Gazette International.
11. Vila, Carlos I. Castrillón, Ángel. (2024-01-05). "Los trenes Avril a 300 km/h Vigo-Madrid llegan con los Reyes Magos, y serán también low cost".
12. Cireasa, Doru. (2024-04-03). "Talgo pays penalties for late delivery of trains to RENFE".
13. May, Tiana. (2022-09-09). "Talgo Avril Achieves New Speed Record in Iberian Gauge". Railway-News.
14. (2025-01-04). "AVRIL high speed laboratory train".
15. Artymiuk, Simon. (2023-01-24). "Le Train signs contract with Talgo for 10 Avril high-speed trains".
16. Felipe, Santiago. (17 April 2024). "Renfe estrenará los nuevos Avril el 21 de mayo con nueve servicios que atravesarán Castilla y León hacia Asturias y Galicia". www.larazon.es.
17. (26 April 2024). "Renfe pone en circulación los S-106 con un incremento de 14.400 plazas para los servicios Avlo que circulan entre Madrid, Aragón, Cataluña, Comunitat Valenciana y Murcia". [[Renfe]].
18. (2024-08-08). "Renfe Class 106 - The Emperor's New Clothes?".
19. (2024-08-06). "Renfe culpa a Talgo del caos ferroviario y demandará al fabricante".
20. (2025-01-23). "New Year bug halts Spanish high speed train fleet".
21. Preston, Robert. (2025-07-29). "Renfe grounds series 106 Avlo fleet".