Renfe Class 490
| Company type | Electric multiple unit train |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founder | Alstom, Fiat Ferroviaria |
| Headquarters | Spain |
Area served | Spain |
| Products | Tilting trainsets |
| Owner | Renfe |
Renfe Class 490
The Renfe Class 490, frequently referred to as the ETR 490, is an electric multiple unit engineered by Alstom in collaboration with Fiat Ferroviaria for the Spanish railway company Renfe. These trainsets operate solely on Renfe’s Alaris long-distance services, becoming closely identified with the Alaris brand. As Spain’s inaugural tilting trains in routine operation, the Class 490 significantly improves travel comfort and velocity on winding routes.
Unlike the majority of the Pendolino series, the ETR 490 consists of a three-car arrangement: two powered driving cars positioned at each end and a non-powered trailer car centrally located. This design, which parallels Slovenia’s SŽ series 310, incorporates motor bogies equipped with asynchronous motors beneath the driving cars. The pantograph is installed on the motorized cars themselves rather than on a separate locomotive, aligning its traction system with conventional electric multiple units.
The middle carriage integrates passenger seating alongside bar and dining amenities, including facilities designed for travelers with reduced mobility. Its size is more compact compared to its Italian equivalent, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and minimizing track wear. Built using lightweight components, this train attains greater speeds while consuming about one-third less energy than the Italian ETR 460 model.
The tilting mechanism of the ETR 490 is akin to second- and third-generation Pendolino trains, utilizing gyroscopes, oscillation detectors, and speed sensors to enable tilting angles up to eight degrees. Braking is executed through disk brakes supplemented by pneumatic and rheostatic systems, ensuring secure operation at speeds reaching 220 km/h (limited to 160 km/h since 2022).