A Talgo Avril high-speed train is parked in a maintenance garage in Madrid. According to the original script, its wheels were supposed to run over steel rails in France - that was the first step for Renfe to enter the heartland of Europe. But the road to Paris is longer than imagined: attempts to obtain international service authorization for the 106 train set have been delayed, and the EU's call to improve railway connections in Spain has had little effect. Spanish Transport Minister Ó scar Puente has confirmed that Renfe's expansion in France has been suspended, and the national railway operator has turned its attention to neighboring countries to the west: it will apply for permission to use Talgo series 106 Avril and 1077 train sets in Portugal.

Renfe's exit left behind more than just regret. Due to years of delay in completing the technical certification for the French market since its launch in 2022, Renfe initially postponed the originally planned opening in 2024 to 2029 and ultimately chose to withdraw; As the only Avril train tested in France may be withdrawn from Spain, the approximately 350 million euro procurement agreement between Talgo and French private operator Le Train is also cast in the dark. Puente's judgment is very direct: instead of wasting resources in the north, it is better to allocate transportation capacity to neighbors with the same track gauge and determination.

Wide gauge is a natural link

Spain and Portugal share the 1668mm Iberian wide gauge, which eliminates the most expensive barrier for cross-border operations. Portugal is advancing the Lisbon Porto high-speed railway with a total length of 290 kilometers and a designed speed of 300 kilometers per hour. After completion, the travel time between the two cities is expected to be reduced from about 3 hours to 1 hour and 15 minutes. The new line also uses a 1668 millimeter gauge. The clear goal of the two countries is to connect each other through a railway network, and Renfe's judgment is that the 106 and 107 train sets are very suitable for the Portuguese market. A longer-term opportunity lies in the early 2030s, when the Spain Portugal high-speed line via Badajoz will be completed.

Renovation and Schedule

The adaptation work has started. Renfe is paying Talgo 132 million euros to equip the 15 standard gauge trains with variable gauge technology, and upon completion, all 30 trains of the 106 will have dual gauge capability. The 13 Series 107 train sets consist of 26 newly built Talgo variable gauge power cars and 156 refurbished Series VII old sleeper cars. The progress is not easy: the delivery has been delayed by about two years compared to the original plan, and currently there are four train sets undergoing testing. The arrangements for the transition period have also been laid out - three conventional international railway lines between the two countries are expected to be electrified to 25 kV 50 Hz, allowing train sets to be put into cross-border service before the high-speed line is built.keywords:Engineering infrastructure

There are still exam questions ahead

There are also hidden concerns beyond opportunities. In recent years, the Avril platform has encountered delivery delays, reliability disputes, and bogie cracking issues. Some trains were temporarily suspended, and the driver's union even demanded a reduced speed operation; CP, the national railway of Portugal, is advancing the procurement of 12 high-speed trains with a speed of 300 kilometers per hour. Talgo and Alstom have both been shortlisted for pre qualification, and the competition is not easy. For Renfe, Portugal is both an alternative option after France's defeat and a last ditch battle that must prove the reliability of variable gauge technology.Editor/Yang Meiling