x.com
The ride quality on them appears to be good....
(video from X showing a less than desirable ride)
This is on the high-speed line right?x.com
x.com
The ride quality on them appears to be good....
(video from X showing a less than desirable ride)
This must be why I spotted a renfe-livered S-106 at Plouaret-Tregor (on the Paris-Brest line), was very weirded by that sighting at the time but that must have been testing done.The trains are being ordered by "Le Train" whose future services will operate in the south-west of France. Here is their planned route map:
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Translated to English:El de ayer es el incidente que colma el vaso. Trenes estrenados el 21 de mayo, que están dando infinidad de problemas que sufren los usuarios y deterioran la imagen del servicio. “Renfe exige compensaciones económicas a Talgo por los continuos fallos en sus trenes”
Yesterday's incident is the last straw. Trains launched on May 21 are causing countless problems for users and damaging the image of the service. "Renfe demands financial compensation from Talgo for the continuous failures in its trains"
This must be why I spotted a renfe-livered S-106 at Plouaret-Tregor (on the Paris-Brest line), was very weirded by that sighting at the time but that must have been testing done.
But 2+3 YUK, it's gonna be OUIGO again (some carriage in OUIGO TGV are 2+3)... It will be the first time AFAIK that we have 2+3 here outside of OUIGO HS
out of the loop on latest issues, what was Yesterday's incident?Spanish transport ministry is now seeking financial compensation for these awful heaps of junk:
One got stuck in the tunnel between Atocha and Chamartin without power for 2 hours. Consequently, temperatures inside the train rose to over 40 degrees, and passengers broke windonws for ventilation. Also no lighting available.out of the loop on latest issues, what was Yesterday's incident?
Of course that shouldn't happen but it also shows that it takes too long to pull a train out of that tunnel if it gets stuck for whatever reason. And that can't be blamed on Talgo.One got stuck in the tunnel between Atocha and Chamartin without power for 2 hours. Consequently, temperatures inside the train rose to over 40 degrees, and passengers broke windonws for ventilation. Also no lighting available.
Its the cumulative effect of multiple break downs. Punctulaity between valencia and Madrid on services operated by 106s has fallen to about 72%. Delivery of train was 4 years late. Ride quality is poor. Numerous technical issues. Renfe want about 160 million euros compensation.Of course that shouldn't happen but it also shows that it takes too long to pull a train out of that tunnel if it gets stuck for whatever reason. And that can't be blamed on Talgo.

My understanding is the only delays are admistrative and possibly politically motivated. Renfe intended to introduce Barcelona - Paris as a route in July for the Olympics, but mermerings over here is that SNCF are witholding approval until after the games.And how close are Talgo to approval in France?
or until SNCF decide to start playing ball
I.e. never?
ICE is DB. DB and SNCF are a very solid partnership on anything not Eurostar, so it flows very well. + they are used half/half alongside TGVs on Paris to Stuttgart and Frankfurt servicesBoth the ICE407 and the ETR400 have been approved for France, so they do play ball, albeit slowly.
Good news everyone! The Talgo Avril is unable to operate in 2025 due to a software bug. The entire fleet is now withdrawn pending a fix.
Due to a communication failure between the control system and the battery chargers the trains cannot operate at present. Talgo are working together with Ingeteam, manufacturer of the trains' battery chargers, to resolve the incident and restore service as soon as possible.
I think that saying "the ride is good" is a bit of a stretch. While better, they still ride like a bull compared to most regular trains.On ride, the puzzle is that S-102 and S-112 fixed gauge have been running at 300 km/h (330 capable) for around 20 years and the ride is good, albeit on the new network. The S-130 variable gauge has been around nearly as long running at up to 250 km/h on standard gauge.
Was that on LAV or broad gauge though?
S-1x2 on standard gauge I've found OK. S-130 on broad gauge is definitely not good (but still better than S-121 where 26m conventional coach plus poor track at speed is a bad recipe especially at the outer ends).

At a meeting held last week in the French Senate to discuss opening up passenger rail transport to competition, the general manager of Global Strategy at Renfe Operadora, Paloma Baena, stated that the Avril approval process is not expected to be completed before the end of 2028. The Renfe executive criticised the French model for this process and argued that the neighbouring country should "speed up the approval and certification process and strengthen its transparency and predictability".
... Baena also called for the workshops to be adapted to accommodate the rolling stock of new operators, as has been done in Spain, by providing a single safety certificate ...
At the maintenance workshop SNCF provided to [Talgo] it is not possible to do basic maintenance tasks, such as wheel turning. ... Talgo has to take its trains ... to its workshops in Barcelona, in order to carry out these basic maintenance tasks, which delays the entire homologation process.