AVE Class 103
| AVE Class 103 | |
|---|---|
Series 103 train, Velaro E
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The interior of a S103 train.
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| In service | 2006 - present |
| Manufacturer | Siemens |
| Family name | Velaro |
| Number built | 26 trainsets |
| Formation | 8 cars (driver and passenger integrated cars at either end) |
| Capacity | 404 |
| Operator(s) | Renfe |
| Line(s) served | Madrid - Barcelona |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminum |
| Car length | 25.7 m (84 ft 3 3⁄4 in) (Cab car) 24.2 m (79 ft 4 3⁄4 in) (Intermediate car) |
| Width | 2.95 m (9 ft 8 1⁄8 in) |
| Maximum speed | 310 km/h (193 mph) (service) 350 km/h (217 mph) (certified) 403.7 km/h (251 mph) (test) |
| Weight | 425 t (418 long tons; 468 short tons) |
| Power output | 8,800 kW (11,800 hp) |
| Tractive effort | 283 kN (64,000 lbf) Starting 250 kN (56,000 lbf) Cont. @125 km/h (78 mph) |
| Power supply | (?) |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead catenary |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′ +2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′ (8 car set) |
| Safety system(s) | LZB, ASFA 200, ERTMS |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The AVE Class 103 is a high-speed train used for the AVE service and operated in Spain by the state-run railway company RENFE.
The trains were constructed by Siemens, as the second member of the company's Velaro family.
On 24 March 2001, Siemens won one half of RENFE's tender to supply 32 high-speed trains for the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed rail line, offering a modified version of the ICE 3 high-speed train used by German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) for its InterCityExpress service. Changes involved an up-rate to higher power (8,800 kW or 11,800 hp) for higher acceleration and top speed to cover the 651 km (405 mi) between Barcelona and Madrid in 2h30m, the ability to operate in a high range of temperatures, and a different interior.
The ICE 3 trains were a joint production with other Germany-based train manufacturers, who refused to supply parts or sell licenses to Siemens for the AVE Class 103. This caused a delay (for which Siemens eventually paid €21 million), during which Siemens had to re-develop the missing components. However, at the end of this development, Siemens had a complete high-speed train platform, which it named Velaro. The AVE Class 103 was intended as only the second member of a whole family after ICE 3, therefore, it was named by Siemens as the Velaro E.
The AVE Class 103 has been certified to run at 350 km/h (220 mph). During testing between Madrid and Zaragoza, on 16 July 2006, train 005 reached 403.7 km/h (250.8 mph). This is both the current national rail speed record for Spain, and also the current speed record for a normal series train in standard configuration.
On 23 December 2005, RENFE ordered a further 10 identical trains (Siemens designation Velaro E2). Currently, all 26 trains from both orders have been delivered and are in service.
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