AVE Class 100

RENFE Class 100

Series 100 train in Seville station
In service 1992 – present
Manufacturer Alstom / CAF
Family name TGV
Refurbishment 2007 - 2012
Formation 2 driving cars and 8 passenger cars per train set
Capacity 329
Operator(s) Renfe
Line(s) served Madrid – Seville
Specifications
Train length 200.15 m (656 ft 8 in)
Width 2.9 m (9 ft 6 1⁄8 in)
Height 4.28 m (14 ft 1⁄2 in)
Maximum speed 300 km/h (190 mph)
Weight 392 tonnes (386 long tons; 432 short tons)
Power output 8,800 kW (11,800 hp)
Power supply (?)
Electric system(s) Overhead, Dual: 3 kV DC,
25 kV 50 Hz AC
Current collection method Pantograph
Safety system(s) LZB, ASFA 200, ERTMS
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The AVE Class 100, or Series 100, is a high-speed train used for AVE services by the RENFE, in Spain. It was the first high-speed train put into service in Spain, in 1992.

History

This class lived through all the changes involved in the creation of the Spanish high-speed network; originally the plan was to build the high-speed route to Andalusia on an Iberian gauge track (1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in)). At the last minute, it was decided that it should be 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge, meaning RENFE changed its original order for 24 Iberian gauge units to sixteen standard gauge ones, which were delivered between 1991 and 1993.

After various changes in the contract with Alstom and compensation for delays the final eight were delivered; two standard gauge sets and 6 Iberian gauge sets. The Iberian sets became the RENFE Class 101 which used to operate the Euromed services along the Mediterranean corridor (this route is now covered by the RENFE Class 130 trains).

The train 100015 set one of the most important speed records in Spain, reaching 356.8 kilometres per hour (221.7 mph) on a test run. Its previous record had been 330 km/h (210 mph) on an earlier test run. The Class 100 was also involved in speed tests using Talgo carriages.

This class has almost exclusively served the Madrid–Seville high-speed rail line. They were used on the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line for a short period until introduction of the RENFE Class 102. The units used on the Barcelona line had to have their pantographs changed as well as installation of the ERTMS system.

In 2007, after fifteen years of service—half of the trains' expected working life—the entire Class 100 fleet was refurbished.

In February 2011, on account of financial pressures, RENFE announced that, instead of buying 10 new trains to cover the Paris-Madrid route, it would convert AVE Class 100 trains for the route, at a cost of €30,000,000, rather than €270,000,000. RENFE announced that the capacity would be increased to keep the cost down, in addition to the conversion work planned for the trains' electrification and signaling systems.[1]

In 2013, some S100 trains have been changed for French homologation making them compatible with French signaling system and so be able to cross the French border. The aim is to create rail service between major French cites and main Spanish cities (Madrid and Barcelona) simultaneously with SNCF.

Technical information

The Series 100 trains were manufactured by Alstom (8 trains) and CAF (rest) and are directly derived from the TGV Atlantique that runs in France.

A Series 100 train is made up of two 4,400 kW power cars with two motorized bogies each and eight passenger cars with shared bogies. It is compatible with the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge. It is compatible with overhead currents of 3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz alternating current.

Unlike its model, it has both the ASFA 200 (used in Spain) and LZB (used in Germany and in Spain) signaling systems. Furthermore, since 2004 nine of the trains have the ERTMS system installed, as well as two extra coaches and cooling systems specially adapted to temperatures in Spain.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Electrification and signaling

External links

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