| Renfe Class 120/121 | |
|---|---|
 Renfe 120-6051 at Valladolid - Campo Grande (Valladolid) | |
| Manufacturer | CAF[1] / Alstom[2] |
| Constructed | 2001 (order date) 12 units[3] 2004 (order date) 45 units[3] |
| Formation | 4-car sets MCT-MIT-MIP-MCP (120) Mc-M-M-Mc (121) |
| Capacity | Class 120: 237 (+1 reserved)[4] Class 121: 280 (+2) |
| Operators | Renfe |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium[5] |
| Train length | 106.23 m (348 ft 6 in)[5] |
| Car length | 27.35 m (89 ft 9 in) (end cars)[5] 25.78 m (84 ft 7 in) (intermediate cars) [5] |
| Width | 2.92 m (9 ft 7 in)[5] |
| Height | 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)[5] |
| Floor height | 1.3 m (51 in)[5] |
| Doors | 1 per side[5] |
| Maximum speed | 250 km/h (155 mph)[4] |
| Weight | 225 tonnes (221 long tons; 248 short tons) empty)[6] |
| Axle load | 15.6 t (15.4 long tons; 17.2 short tons) |
| Traction system | IGBT–VVVF |
| Traction motors | 8 × 512 kW (687 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor |
| Power output | 4 MW (5,400 hp) (25 kV AC), 2.7 MW (3,600 hp) (3 kV DC)[4] |
| Transmission | Body mounted motor via cardan shaft to inner axle of each bogie.[1] |
| Acceleration | 0.52 m/s2 (1.7 ft/s2)[4] |
| Deceleration | 0.50 m/s2 (1.6 ft/s2) @ 120 km/h (75 mph)[4] 0.35 m/s2 (1.1 ft/s2) @ 250 km/h (160 mph)[4] |
| Electric system(s) | 3 kV DC–25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary[5] |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| AAR wheel arrangement | (1A)'(A1)'-(1A)'(A1)'-(1A)'(A1)'-(1A)'(A1)' |
| Braking system(s) | regenerative/rheostatic and pneumatic disc brakes[1] |
| Safety system(s) | ERTMS N1/2[7] |
| Multiple working | 2 trainsets[1] |
| Track gauge | 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) Iberian gauge/ 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge[5] |
The Renfe Class 120 are electric multiple units used on Alvia high-speed rail services in Spain.[8][9]
The trainsets are dual-voltage, dual-gauge units capable of changing gauge without stopping at 30 km/h (19 mph).[2] Twelve units were ordered in 2001, and a further 45 units in 2004[10]
29 units of the class Renfe Class 121 were ordered[dubious – discuss] for medium-distance high-speed Avant services. The units are very similar to the Class 120 but include additional electrical equipment for redundancy (a requirement for trains using the Guadarrama Tunnel), and do not provide first class seating, raising the number of seats to 282.
Design
Class 120
The trainsets are 4-unit multiple units capable of operating in pairs,[1] designed for medium-distance high-speed services. The inner axle of each carriage bogie is powered by a body mounted three phase asynchronous traction motor via a cardan shaft final drive. The motors are driven by IGBT converters with one converter per carriage. The bogies are of welded steel construction with primary coil springs and secondary air suspension. Tractive forces are transmitted by a drag pivot pin.[1]
The bogies incorporate CAF's BRAVA (Bogie de Rodadura de Ancho Variable Autopropulsado[3]) system which allows gauge-changing without stopping and operating speeds of up to 275 km/h (171 mph)[11] The maximum axleload is 15.6 tonnes (15.4 long tons; 17.2 short tons).[6]
The vehicles are air conditioned with one toilet per car. Passenger services include individual audio systems, and audio and visual information systems. One seat is reserved for disabled passengers, and wheelchair ramps are fitted. The driver's cab is also air conditioned, and the train is equipped with GSM-R systems.[12]
There are 156 seats in 'standard' accommodation[9] and 82 seats in 'first class'.[8]
Class 121
The 121 class are built to the same design as the original 120 Class but have additional electrical equipment (duplicated for redundancy). Additionally all the seating is in [2+2] formation[13] increasing the capacity to 282.[14]
Operations
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Class 120
The first trainset was produced in 2004 and began testing.[15] Services on the Madrid to Barcelona line began in 2006.[6][16]
The trainsets have operated on the Madrid-Pamplona-Hendaye, Madrid-Logroño, Barcelona-Vigo and Barcelona-Bilbao/Irun lines.[17]
Class 121
The first trains entered service on the Madrid-Segovia-Valladolid line on 26 January 2009.[18] They are currently used for the Avant services Barcelona-Lleida, A Coruña-Ourense and Zaragoza-Calatayud[19] and for the Intercity service Madrid-Gijón.[20]
Related vehicles
The 6-car TCDD HT65000 electric multiple units ordered from CAF by the Turkish State Railways for the Istanbul-Ankara high-speed line are based upon the Class 120 design.
Accidents and incidents
- 18 January 2026: At 19:39 CET, train set number 61 of the Renfe Class 120 was involved in a major double derailment near Adamuz, Córdoba. The accident was initiated when a Frecciarossa 1000 operated by Iryo, traveling on the adjacent track, derailed and obstructed the path of the oncoming Class 120. The resulting collision led to the derailment of the Class 120 unit. The disaster resulted in at least 39 fatalities and 245 injuries, with 15 passengers reported in critical condition.[21]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f HIGH-SPEED TRAIN ATPRD s-120 Archived 2012-02-14 at the Wayback Machine www.caf.net
- ^ a b European Federation of railway trackworks contractors - Gauge Change Systems in Spain No.1 2007, page 5, www.efrtc.org
- ^ a b c CAF's 250km/h variable gauge train Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine Via Libre, Julio Agosto, 2006, via caf.net
- ^ a b c d e f HIGH-SPEED TRAIN ATPRD s-120, Performance Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine www.caf.net
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j HIGH-SPEED TRAIN ATPRD s-120, Basic details Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine www.caf.net
- ^ a b c En servicio los trenes serie 120 entre Madrid y Barcelona www.vialibre-ffe.com
- ^ A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM FOR RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROL Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine María Ángeles Buenom, 23/10/2009 page 8, conference.europoint.eu
- ^ a b Alvia services - preference class www.renfe.es
- ^ a b Alvia services - Tourist class www.renfe.es
- ^ Renfe define su encargo de trenes de ancho variable, series 120 y 130 www.vialibre-ffe.com
- ^ The Self-Propelled Variable Gauge Rolling Truck Archived 2012-02-04 at the Wayback Machine www.caf.net
- ^ HIGH-SPEED TRAIN ATPRD s-120, Equipment Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine www.caf.net
- ^ Renfe Serie 121 www.renfe.es
- ^ El primer tren de la serie 121 y la locomotora eléctrica 253 de mercancías ya están en vía www.vialibre-ffe.com
- ^ En pruebas la serie 120, trenes de ancho variable y bitensión para 250 km/h wwwvialibre-ffe.com
- ^ Cuatro trenes de la serie 120 se incorporan al servicio Madrid-Valencia www.vialibre-ffe.com
- ^ (section) RENFE-LD high-speed trainsets - Class 120 Archived 2017-08-16 at the Wayback Machine www.railfaneurope.net
- ^ Entra en servicio la serie 121 de Renfe Archived 2010-02-17 at the Wayback Machine 27/1/2009 www.altavelocidad
- ^ Avant Serie 121 www.renfe.com
- ^ "Renfe pondrá a la venta el 2 de noviembre los nuevos billetes Asturias-Madrid, con una oferta de lanzamiento a partir de 18 euros". Renfe. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "Al menos 39 muertos al descarrilar dos trenes de alta velocidad en Adamuz, Córdoba" [At least 39 dead after two high-speed trains derailed in Adamuz, Córdoba]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 2026-01-19. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
Further reading
- RENFE Class 120 and 121 in detail (spanish language) publisher: Via Libre, 11/2009, via www.caf.net
External links
- Images of Renfe Class 120 trains fototrenes.tranvia.org
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