Renfe accuses Talgo of being the cause of the problems that have affected various high-speed passengers, especially those whose origin or destination is Madrid Chamartín Clara Campoamor station. The incidents have been going on for several days now. Just yesterday, an Avlo convoy with 494 passengers on board was trapped for more than two hours without electricity or air conditioning. The passengers had to break some windows.
The operator headed by Raül Blanco blames the train manufacturer for all these problems and announces that it will demand financial compensation for the damage caused. Yesterday’s breakdown affected 11,768 passengers, according to Renfe calculations, which will have to pay compensation of 390,000 euros. In total, 34 services were affected.
Renfe claims that yesterday’s breakdown in the power supply system, which occurred at the entrance of the train from Valencia, is yet another. Specifically, the operator mentions in a statement the “increase in serious technical incidents” in the new S106 trains.
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The public company has therefore decided to take action “for contractual and non-contractual liability against Talgo”. The manufacturer, owned by the Trilantic fund and the Oriol family, is currently in the process of a takeover bid, which the Government does not support, by the Hungarian consortium Ganz-Mavag. On the other hand, the Czech manufacturer Škoda has expressed its interest in merging both companies.
“Renfe is quantifying the reputational damage and compensation to passengers that the company is suffering due to the situation arising from the repeated incidents of the Series 106,” the operator adds. This could be the subject of an additional claim for damages to the one already mentioned, it explains.
“From the first day,” Renfe denounces, “incidents” have occurred on trains
The business dispute between Renfe and Talgo dates back to 21 May, when the first trains of the new series went into circulation. “From the first day,” the operator explains today, “incidents” have occurred. “Renfe has repeatedly requested, both from the management and from the shareholders of Talgo, an immediate solution” to these technical problems, it adds.
Renfe states that, in addition, its technical teams are preparing a reliability report on the overall operation of the Talgo Series 106 “with the aim of taking the appropriate operational adjustment measures in response to the incidents that have occurred since its launch.”
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Finally, Renfe announced that it will initiate legal action to recover damages for the delay in delivery of the Series 106, reserving, in addition, “the right to initiate as many actions as necessary against the Talgo group to defend its rights, its reputation and the rights of its users.”
The PP announced today, before the Renfe move, that it will urgently request the Permanent Commission of the Congress of Deputies to hold an extraordinary plenary session so that the Government can give the appropriate explanations of what is happening in the train stations. “While the Spanish railway system is in a state of total chaos, with continuous deficiencies in commuter, medium and long distance and AVE trains, we find ourselves with Minister Puente in a state of absolute dereliction of duty,” denounces the main opposition party.
How many services are currently provided by S106 trains?
On May 21, Renfe launched 22 services with Series 106 trains, which have been increased to the current 32 services, according to sources from the operator. Today, the new trains provide 32 services (16 in each direction) on AVE and Avlo trains throughout the country.
Specifically, four Avlo trains run in each direction on the northeast corridor on the Madrid-Aragon-Catalonia connection. In the northern corridor, two AVE trains run in each direction Galicia – Madrid and one Avlo train in each direction Galicia – Madrid; in addition to two AVE trains in each direction Asturias – Madrid + one Avlo in each direction on the same route. Finally, in the eastern corridor, four Avlo trains run between Valencia and Madrid and another two Avlo trains between Murcia and the capital.
Renfe currently has 335 high-speed and long-distance services and the 106 series, the subject of the public company’s lawsuit, account for 9% of them.
The punctuality of Talgo’s S106 trains barely reaches 40.72%
Since May 21, Renfe has made 1,761 trips with Talgo S106 trains. Since that day, incidents have increased, the operator claims. Specifically, it states that while the punctuality of Renfe’s high-speed and long-distance trains is 76.2%, compliance with the schedules of Talgo’s S106 trains is 40.72%.
Renfe argues that some customers may have lost confidence in its service due to these problems, which “has affected the company’s reputation.” In addition, additional costs have been incurred and time, material and personnel resources have been used, it concludes.
