Renfe's recent acquisition of Talgo Avril S106 trains has been marred by a series of technical problems. The latest incident, where 494 passengers were stranded for over two hours near Madrid's Chamartín station, has reignited tensions between Renfe and Talgo.
According to Renfe's internal report, the new trains have been involved in 479 incidents since their launch in May. These incidents have resulted in substantial delays, with 28 causing delays of over an hour and 14 necessitating passenger rescue or transfer.
The report highlights a worrying trend of escalating problems, both in terms of frequency and impact. The cumulative delay time has reached 9,742 minutes, with the majority occurring in July and a rapid increase seen in August.
The most common issues are related to the train's control and communications network, although recent updates aim to address some of these problems. However, their effectiveness remains to be seen.
Renfe currently operates 11 of these trains, while the remaining 11 are out of service due to various faults. Additionally, eight more trains are yet to be delivered, raising concerns about their reliability.
The S106s have been a source of contention even before their deployment, with their delivery delayed by almost two years, prompting Renfe to file a claim against Talgo.
These issues have drawn criticism from the opposition, who have questioned the Minister of Transport about the growing number of incidents. The minister himself has acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that the trains are causing "endless problems."
The problems with the S106s are adding to Talgo's challenges amidst a potential takeover bid. The Spanish government's concerns about the potential buyer's ties to the Hungarian government have further complicated the situation.
Despite the issues with the trains, the railway infrastructure manager, Adif, maintains that recent disruptions are unrelated to ongoing construction work at Chamartín station.
The S106s currently make up 9% of Renfe's high-speed and long-distance fleet, but their punctuality rate lags significantly behind the overall service average. The financial implications of these incidents for Renfe remain unclear, but last year the company paid 42 million euros in compensation for delays across its network.
