Considered the next frontier in rail travel, high-speed commuter services pose severe challenges for manufacturers and operators alike, calling for the development of complex rolling stock capable of safely navigating sections of legacy track using multiple signalling systems. Whilst a number of companies have successfully produced high-speed long-distance trains, only a few have managed to integrate the often contradictory requirements of high-speed commuter services into a single design.
The dual voltage, dual power Talgo 250, made by the eponymous Spanish train manufacturer long known and respected for its innovative engineering solutions, is one of the only trains on the market able to sustain high-speed commuter services. It currently serves on various lines in and around Madrid.
Since 1964, Talgo manufactures trains with variable gauge axles that seamlessly bridge the divide between Spain’s broad gauge and French standard gauge track. Talgo has also developed a high-speed diesel-powered train – the Talgo XXI – intended for use on non-electrified track in the United States. On a test run, the Talgo XXI reached 256km/h, setting a world-speed record for diesel trains. The company is now testing the latest addition to its catalogue, the Talgo AVRIL – a next-generation train slated to reach speeds in excess of 380km/h.
The CFI.co judging panel notes that from its corporate beginnings in 1942, Talgo has produced unique designs. The Talgo I built in Valladolid not only set speed records but incorporated novel technologies that significantly improved passenger comfort. That heritage of excellence has been preserved and expanded upon in the decades that followed. Talgo is named winner of the 2017 Most Innovative Rail Technology Global Award.