The entry into service on 17 June of the Class 730 hybrid will cut journey times between Madrid and Galicia by over 30 minutes and enable the Madrid-Alicante route to be completed in less than two hours. This new train, which replaces the current Talgo, will spread the benefits of high speed to non-electrified track sections. At the end of June Spain’s Minister for Public Works Ana Pastor gave a briefing on this new service.

Under a €78m project, 15 Talgo/Bombardier Class 130 trainsets are being converted to the Class 730. It is one of the most versatile trains in the world, for it incorporates both diesel and electric engines (for electrified and non-electrified track), shifting rolling system (for 1668 mm gauge and 1435 mm gauge), dual voltage (for two different overhead line voltages) and signalling systems for circulation on all existing lines in Spain.

The Class 730 has a top speed of 200 km/h on 1668 mm gauge and 250 km/h on 1435 mm gauge high speed infrastructure.

(Source: ADIF)