Talgo, a manufacturer of high-speed light trains, has begun dynamic tests of its Vittal-One dual renewable hydrogen train at its factory in Las Matas (Madrid), with the goal of ensuring the correct operation of the main composition systems developed in previous stages and verifying the traction applied to the railway sector.
Repsol will provide the infrastructure for the production of renewable hydrogen and the energy for the train’s propulsion in the first phase; in the second phase, both businesses will evaluate the technology on a general track, first in Madrid and then in Extremadura.
“This is a watershed moment for both the corporation and the Spanish railway.” As part of Talgo’s commitment to helping operators decarbonize the railway network, the Vittal One will promote emission-free transportation throughout the country, connecting provinces, cities, and towns,” said Carlos Palacio Oriol, the firm’s president.
The Talgo Travca multi-system locomotive used in the TPH2 test train is a vehicle prototype capable of changing gauges and adapting to different electrification voltages. It comprises five hydrogen fuel cell vehicles plus a laboratory car for data collection and processing.
Talgo’s commitment to sustainable mobility in the short and medium-term is shown by the Vittal One dual hydrogen train. It’s built on Talgo Vittal’s Cercanas y Media Distancia technology platform, with hydrogen traction created entirely from renewable energy sources. As a result, it is the ideal choice for replacing diesel traction and decarbonizing railway lines that are not catenary-powered.
The technology is supplemented with batteries that enhance the power available when the train is started, making use of the train’s brakes to recharge, demonstrating the train’s long-term viability.
It will be capable of speeds of up to 220 km/h in electric mode and 160 km/h in hydrogen mode. The hydrogen fuel cell will burn only 0.25 kg/km and offer the train an electric-free range of 800 kilometers.
The outside design won the Exterior Design Contest for the Talgo TPH2 Train, which was produced by a group of students from the University of Extremadura’s Degree in Engineering in Industrial Design and Product Development at the University Center of Mérida.
