Renfe showcases its new arrivals. The company now has 10 units of the S106 train model and has set the date for their launch: starting 21 May. Following the inclusion of these high-capacity trains into its fleet, the operator will be able to launch the high-speed services in Asturias, expanding them to new destinations in Galicia, reconfiguring all high-speed services to offer more seats, more regular departures, better travel time and more seats available across all corridors.
In Asturias, the arrival of the S106 represents the absolute roll-out of high-speed services. The region, which inaugurated its high-speed connection to the centre of the Spanish mainland via the Pajares Bypass on 30 November, will now enjoy a faster connection to Oviedo and Gijón with an increase in the number of seats and comfort on board.
In Galicia, Renfe is launching its high-speed service with the S106 model in Vigo, Pontevedra, Vilagarcía, Santiago and A Coruña, improving travel times by 15 to 18 minutes.
These new high-speed services in Galicia and Asturias will also benefit cities in Castile and Leon through which the S106 will pass, served by the high-speed line: Zamora, Segovia, León, Palencia and Valladolid. As well as Madrid.
Starting on 21 May, Renfe will roll-out the first phase of the S106's commissioning, adjusted to the reorganisation of rail services due to the capacity expansion works that Adif is performing at Madrid Chamartín-Clara Campoamor station.
As well as this new commercial offer, new phases for the implementation and expansion of the service using the S106 will be added once Adif's improvement works at Chamartín are completed (at the end of July). Additionally, the commercial offer will be progressively increased in subsequent phases.
Extension of improvements to other corridors
The introduction of these trains will allow Renfe to introduce improvements across all its corridors. The operator will progressively relocate the trains freed up by the arrival of the S-106s to improve services on other lines. The roll out of these new trains see 20,000 seats freed up per week on different lines between different cities in nine autonomous communities: Madrid, Andalusia, Extremadura, Catalonia, Aragon, Castile and Leon, Castile-La Mancha, the Region of Valencia and La Rioja.
The reassigned trains will be Alvia models (S-730, S-130, S-121) capable of running on different infrastructures, meaning that the advantages of Alta Velocidad (high-speed) can be multiplied and extended to numerous destinations that, thanks to this technology, provide more connections, shorten distances and improve the overall reliability of the mobility system.
What's more, four S-112 model trains will also be reassigned to be used by Avlo, improving frequencies and doubling the number of units at certain times, in particular in southern Spain.
Renfe is boosting national connectivity by providing passengers with more trains, more frequencies and more destinations than anyone else.
The most modern fleet in Europe
The arrival of the first S106s pays testament to how Renfe is renewing and rejuvenating its fleet of high-speed trains. The last time that high-speed trains were added to Renfe's fleet were the S112 model in 2010. The S114 model, serving High Speed Mid-Distance (Avant) routes, joined Renfe's fleet in 2011.
The S106 models form part of the company's package of investments in new material, with more than 5,000 million euros dedicated to the purchase of a new fleet and the renewal of the existing fleet. These are the first trains that the company has received as part of this major investment plan, which has seen an investment of 1,281.5 million euros in the S106 model alone.
Renfe commissioned Talgo to manufacture thirty S106 trains. These trains boast 12 carriages per train and more than 500 seats in total, depending on the train's layout. High-speed trains boast improved features, with touch screens in all seats and comfort (with 2+2 seating arrangements) and standard or tourist (3+2) spaces in addition to a cafeteria service.