Renfe’s Talgo Avril, in its 106 series version, continues its homologation process in France with significant progress.
The most recent is that the unit intended for this purpose, the 106-009, has passed the tests in the workshops of SNCF Est Européen, located in Bobigny, on the outskirts of Paris.
During the process, various compatibility tests such as wheel lathing were carried out, certifying that the train can be maintained in SNCF Voyageurs’ facilities.
Thanks to this advance, it will be possible to speed up the homologation of the train to run on SNCF Réseau tracks. Maintenance can be carried out in Paris, and it will not be necessary to take the train to Barcelona.
From now on, this Talgo Avril trainset in France will continue its homologation on the Rhine-Rhône high-speed line. Specifically, it is travelling to the city of Mulhouse on the border with Switzerland.
10 AVE trains to compete against SNCF and Trenitalia
Of the 30 Talgo series 106 trains purchased, 10 are intended to run in France. They are triple-voltage (1.5 kV DC/3 kV DC/50 kV 50 Hz AC) and have the necessary safety systems to operate on the French rail network.
Although Renfe had intended to have them in service before the 2024 Olympics to operate an AVE Barcelona-Lyon Paris, delays in the homologation have made this impossible.
It was the same goal that SNCF Voyageurs had with its modern TGV-M (Alstom’s Avelia Horizon), which is also suffering from certification setbacks. According to the operator, the estimated date of entry into service is early 2026.
Regarding the homologation of the Talgo Avril in France, neither Renfe nor Talgo have indicated a date, and the public operator is studying changes in the future of its operations in France.