Renfe Class 120 / 121
| Industry | Rail transport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1941 |
| Headquarters | Madrid , Spain |
Area served | Spain |
| Products | High-speed trains including Class 120 and Class 121 EMUs |
The Renfe Class 120 electric multiple units operate on Spain's Alvia high-speed rail services. These trainsets are equipped with dual-voltage and dual-gauge capabilities, incorporating variable gauge technology that allows them to switch track gauges at speeds reaching without the need to halt. The initial procurement included 12 units ordered in 2001, followed by an additional 45 units in 2004.
For high-speed medium-distance Avant routes, Renfe commissioned 29 comparable trainsets known as Class 121. These feature improved electrical system redundancy—critical for traversing the Guadarrama Tunnel—and exclude first-class seating to expand the total passenger capacity to 282 seats.
Class 120
Class 120 trainsets consist of four cars and typically operate coupled in pairs for medium-distance high-speed travel. Each carriage’s inner axle is driven by a three-phase asynchronous traction motor mounted on the vehicle body, connected via a cardan shaft final drive, with individual IGBT converters assigned per car. The bogies are constructed from welded steel and use primary coil springs along with secondary air suspension; tractive forces are transmitted through a drag pivot pin.
These units utilize CAF's BRAVA (Bogie de Rodadura de Ancho Variable Autopropulsado) system, which facilitates gauge changes on the move at speeds up to . The maximum permissible axle load is .
Passenger comfort features include climate control, one restroom per carriage, personal audio devices, and audio-visual information displays. Accessibility provisions encompass designated spaces for disabled passengers and wheelchair ramps. The driver’s cab is also air-conditioned and fitted with GSM-R communication equipment.
Seating arrangements offer 156 standard class and 82 first-class seats.
Class 121
While based on the Class 120 architecture, Class 121 units incorporate duplicated electrical components to ensure operational redundancy. Seating is configured in a [2+2] layout, allowing for an increased capacity of 282 passengers.
Class 120
Manufactured in 2004, the Class 120 underwent testing phases before commencing service on the Madrid-Barcelona corridor in 2006. These trainsets also serve routes such as Madrid-Pamplona-Hendaye, Madrid-Logroño, Barcelona-Vigo, and Barcelona-Bilbao/Irun.
Class 121
The inaugural Class 121 trains entered service on the Madrid-Segovia-Valladolid route on 26 January 2009. They operate on Avant lines including Barcelona-Lleida, A Coruña-Ourense, Zaragoza-Calatayud, as well as the Intercity Madrid-Gijón service.
Related vehicles
The TCDD HT65000 electric multiple units, consisting of six cars and ordered from CAF by Turkish State Railways for use on the Istanbul-Ankara high-speed line, are derived from the design of the Class 120.
See also
Further reading
- Detailed overview of RENFE Class 120 and 121 (Spanish) Via Libre, November 2009, via www.caf.net
External links
- Photographs of Renfe Class 120 trains fototrenes.tranvia.org