Spain: The first batch comprises ten variable gauge AVE trains with 507 seats.
The next batch of five Avlo trains will be delivered shortly. The latter will have 581 seats each as they have no restaurant car. The new fleet will be put into service in May on regional routes and the Barcelona–Paris line.
Each train has a maximum speed of 330 km/h, two head motor and 12 intermediate cars. Talgo reports that the Avril train has covered about 300,000 km of test run on the 1,435 mm and 1,668 mm gauge lines.
Renfe ordered 30 new-generation trains back in 2016–2017, at a cost of almost EUR 1.5 bln. Deliveries were due to start as early as January 2021, but were delayed. Now, Renfe is seeking to recover several sums from Talgo: EUR 166 mln in penalties, plus compensation of EUR 80,000 per day for delays from April this year. Talgo intends to deliver the remaining 15 trains within a year.
