Page 43 - Vía Libre Special - 25 Years of Spanish High Speed Rail

Series 130 train on the Madrid-Segovia-Valladolid line.

from 60%-40% in favour of air before the high speed
line opened, to 90% in favour of the train.
Variable gauge technology

Renfe has also collaborated with Adif to
increase the efficiency of the rail system. This is the
case of the variable gauge technology.
In Spain, high speed and conventional lines
have different track gauges, 1,435 mm vs. 1,668 mm
respectively. There are corridors where the HS line
is opened to service by sections. It is a challenge
to make trains run on tracks of different gauge,
but it brings the opportunity for the customers to
take advantage of the HS services without waiting Series 120 train for Alvia services.
for the line to be completed. To face this challenge,
Adif must install “gauge change facilities” to connect sections. Passengers have no disturbance during the
both networks, and Renfe Operadora (RO) must fit its trip because transition between HS and conventional
trains with a compatible gauge changing technology. sections is smooth and quick, and they benefit from a
On the one hand, RO has developed the reduction of travel time because trains run at higher
variable gauge technology on-board with the train speeds on HS sections with the same service quality
manufacturers Talgo and CAF to benefit from new on-board as HS services. As a result, there is an
HS sections entering into operation. On the other increasing demand of the Alvia product (raised 36%
hand, RO helps Adif validate new developments of in 2010-2016), and recently RO awarded a contract
the facilities on track to ensure full compatibility with of 15 new HS trains with variable gauge technology
the technology already fitted on-board. Examples of to reinforce the Alvia services. On the other hand,
both approaches are the new facilities which entered Renfe Viajeros is using the new TCRS4 changer, with
into operation in 2011, 2013 and 2015 to connect the 8 passing trains per day, and up to now there have
existing conventional lines to the new HS sections, been no incidents at all (100% reliability). In addition,
and the new fix facility “TCRS4 changer” which is in this facility can swap between each 4 technologies
operation since Sept. 2015 and is compatible with 4 in 25% of the time required for the previous TCRS2
on-board technologies (Talgo, CAF, SVW and TYPV version.
ones). These are just some examples of a story
By collaborating with Adif for the introduction which will never end as Renfe’s professionals from
and continuous improvement of the variable gauge all areas of the organization, from train drivers and
technology we have increased the efficiency of the conductors to IT and rolling stock engineers, are
Spanish rail system, ensuring that the investments constantly working to make sure that it is constantly
in high speed rail can benefit the majority of the modernising and implementing new technologies
territories served by Renfe. To achieve this we while, at the same time, adapting to the needs of its
have equipped 100 train units with gauge changing customers. years of Spanish high speed rail
technology and we offer the “Alvia” service for Renfe´s DiRectoRate GeneRal
passengers going beyond the current end of the HS of Development anD stRateGy.

Vía Libre • Special 25th Anniversary of the AVE Edition 43