Year 2025 problem paralyzes Spanish high-speed trains

A computer problem paralyzed the entire fleet of Talgo Avril high-speed trains in Spain at the turn of the year. According to reports, the cause was a communication error between the control systems and battery chargers from the manufacturer Ingeteam. According to the train manufacturer, this was related to the turn of the year, without going into further detail. In future, Talgo will also manufacture trains for ICE traffic in Germany, the so-called ICE-L.

According to the newspaper El Pais, around 24,000 passengers were affected by the standstill in Spain. 28 train connections were affected and there were delays on the main lines, which are centered around Spain's capital Madrid. The issues with the 106 series locomotives occurred at 7 a.m. on New Year's morning. The state-owned railroad company RENFE is said to have suffered losses of around one million euros due to train cancellations.

Plenty of trouble in Spain

The Talgo Avril was put into operation in May 2023. It had already caused a stir beforehand due to technical problems. In total, there were 479 incidents in the first three months of operation. There were two-year delays in delivery for the 30 trains ordered. RENFE is therefore demanding compensation of 116 million euros from the manufacturer.

The Talgo Avril offers space for 500 to 735 passengers, depending on the configuration. The 200-meter-long train can reach a top speed of 330 km/h. The train concept was first presented at the InnoTrans mobility trade fair in Berlin in 2012.

Deutsche Bahn has ordered the ICE L from Talgo

In Germany, Talgo is a household name thanks to the order for 56 ICE trains placed by Deutsche Bahn. The Spanish manufacturer is to build new trains for two billion euros and gradually put them on the rails from 2026. A total of 79 ICE L trains are to be part of DB's vehicle fleet by 2030, it was announced in May 2023.

(mki)