Spain’s FASTEST Bullet Train has THIS crazy feature!

[@CelticSaint]

I lived in Spain for 10 years and often rode on the 'Renfe Train' as I used to call them. I loved it. The cost of a ticket was significantly cheaper than here in the UK. Great video. God I wish I was still living there!!!!

[@markoobid2005]

It's a thing many got wrong about Talgo. It doesn't have single axle per carriage. It actually has NO axle at all! There are two independent wheels per carriage, not connected and running separately from one another. I don't find it bizarre, I rather find it a genius design, one of the most genial things in the history of railways.

[@osasunaitor]

Thank you!! Finally someone mentions this

[@ft4709]

It enables some really cool features such as passive tilting, fast gauge changeing and easy level boarding but considering it only works on loco-hauled trains and has some serious drawbacks I don’t think it‘s one of the most ingenious designs, just well suited for particular usecases.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks for the correction! That's really cool. :)

[@amateurcameraman]

I find it super concerning (though yes, i have had several rides on these trains). To me, the single axle is a 'single point of failure' and if one axle derails, it takes two carriages off the track, and i think it is very unlikely that the train will survive that happening. Unlike for example, the Eurostar that has a single axle derail some years ago, at 154 MPH, and the whole train stayed upright.

[@maxart3392]

@@amateurcameraman Well, it worked well until now. The one that went off the track near Santiago was travelling at twice the speed allowed in that corner. I think no train would survive that, not even the Pendolino. And it's worth mentioning that this technology was invented back in the 1940s and in regular use since 1960s.

[@andreawoelke]

No, no, no!! Talgo trains don't have axles connecting the two wheels on each side. Each of the two corresponding wheels is individually fixed to a column and the carriage hangs on the top of the column and can therefore tilt naturally. It's an enormously clever system and well worth reading up on. Great video!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Ooooops! Thanks for that. I guess it makes it easier to change gauge like that?

[@StefanWithTrains]

@@SuperalbsTravels these can't change their gauge...

[@andrewthomas7073]

I am glad that you have mentioned the natural tilt and the columns. I had a few pictures of a Talgo stand at an exhibition some time ago and they might be helpful, if only I could locate them!

[@javiej]

@@SuperalbsTravels Not only that, it is also a much lighter design than other models like the French and German and requires 30% less energy than them. Train electricity cost was not a big issue in the past, but nowadays it is.

[@The-Cat]

Thanks for correcting the misinformation. I hate misinformation on social media

[@maimadha]

Spain's high speed trains are magnificent

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Yep! The network is huge too.

[@oliversmith7130]

I went to an Interrail trip through europe and as good as the trains may be nationaly, the International routes in southern europe are so shitty i can't even begin to explain. Not to mention the passport control in france when you get a TGV from Barcelona, never seen this and I almost missed my train because of this.

[@herrburgos]

sort of, they are magnificent if you plan to go from Madrid to any other city, but between those cities that are not Madrid it pretty much sucks... Or try to go from Malaga to Almeria or Barcelona to Valencia, or Valencia to Murcia

[@geonauto]

Built when we were one of the 8 richest countries in the world,before EU sent us to the second league,a place to build cheap VW ,and sell them as premium.

[@dannmm6745]

@@herrburgos A ver paleto te voy a enseñar una cosita. No se puede tener trenes de alta velocidad unir cada pueblo del pais. España tiene una de las redes de alta velocidad mas extensas del mundo y muy encima de otros paises que son bastante mas ricos que España… y tu todavia quieres mas… Ve a cualquier pais del mundo a ver cuantos trenes de alta velocidad encuentras para conectar ciudades de un tamaño similar a Murcia y Almeria… ¿Te das cuenta lo ignorante que eres??

[@kaekae4010]

Talgo's pendulum system and its rolling system is genius from an engineering point of view. It is internationally recognized as one of the best solutions. The result is obvious on a platform. The composition of cars and locomotive is tremendously elegant. If you know what you see, and what is between those cars, you appreciate x100 that work of art on rails.

[@etbadaboum]

Is this a locally designed solution? The standard for tilting train in Europe is Italian Pendolino (now part of Alstom).

[@kaekae4010]

@@etbadaboum It is a different solution. Talgo is a company that designs cars with its own philosophy of rolling and (light) car design. Each car is hung on a bridge and these on an independent wheel. Each wheel is not linked by an axle. They call it natural pendulation.

[@etbadaboum]

@@kaekae4010 Interesting. Will look into it. Thanks!

[@kaekae4010]

@@etbadaboum That's why I suppose they call it a natural pendulum. To differentiate from tilting. By hanging each car from a bridge (over a pneumatic suspension), so that the car is forced to swing over them, the center of mass is below the point of support of the cars. You're welcome, Regards.

[@JuanPab521]

10 years old video kzbin.info/www/bejne/f37LaaeoiK-Vh68 and newst kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGGYlJWbgtqNd8k

[@osasunaitor]

As a spaniard, I might not agree with some of your remarks (especially about the appearance of the train) but I appreciate the effort you made to pronounce Spanish names almost perfectly! ¡Buen trabajo!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you, I try! :)

[@odisea1876]

casi mejor no digas nada

[@herrburgos]

I thought the same, the guy is biased, but darn it, he does it even with ceceo.

[@osasunaitor]

@@herrburgosI just watched his last video from Denmark and holy jesus, he can pronounce even Danish!! This guy is part-time train enthusiast, full-time polyglot :D

[@osasunaitor]

@@eduardomg4066 es normal que los comercios abran y cierren antes en muchos países de Europa, la excepción somos nosotros que vamos con la hora cambiada. A muchos europeos les choca, lo he visto con mis propios ojos. Y Santa Justa será muy práctica pero estéticamente es anodina si la comparas con las estaciones clásicas de las grandes ciudades europeas, creo que se refiere a eso. No sé por qué hay tanto español resentido en este foro, más de uno tiene cierto complejo de inferioridad por aquí.

[@k0k0m02008]

I was puzzled first when you mentioned Talgo 350 but when I saw the unique beak-like front I knew you were referring to these trainsets (series 102 or 112 would actually be the proper denomination in RENFE). I first didn't like the design too, but finally I believe you end up liking them due to the unorthodox style. Keep up the great job!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Fair enough. Thanks for watcing! :)

[@1312_PV]

I love them. Due to advertisement when I was young they remain to me as the face of high speed travel. Other trains look too normal, not unorthodox like a Formula 1 car.

[@klausbriesma9050]

These trains are the lightest in the world, least energy consume, low entrance without stairs. Special tilting system for more riding comfort, design with personality, 365 kmh top speed.... Good storage... They are really good and efficient

[@Lachafan]

I live in Spain and I can tell you that you discover a track section every single day and also that there are always new systems!

[@funkyhetzer6624]

Oh that’d fitting! Just 2 weeks ago I rode on a S-103 Velaro from Barcelona Sants to Madrid Atocha in premium class. It was absolutely great! Quick, on time and comfortable! Greetings from Austria, the home of the Railjet!

[@funkyhetzer6624]

Correction:That’s

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Awesome, sounds like you enjoyed the journey then?

[@funkyhetzer6624]

Yeah,I really did! Hope you keep making these great reviews!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

@@funkyhetzer6624 Thank you! More to come for sure... :)

[@klausbriesma9050]

In Spain unlike Germany trains are extremely punctual and renfe refunds money if there is a delay over 15min

[@MarioFanGamer659]

I think the main reason for the single axiles instead of boogie is because the Talgo 350 is low floor and wheels in general take quite a bit of space. By having only two pairs of wheels per car instead of two quartets, the space you have to "sacrifice" is reduced and having them placed in gangways, which already don't have much useful space, leaves more useful space for passengers. The low floor trams in Vienna follow a similar principle, though in the way to lower the floor even further than it is normally possible with a boogie design. The downside is that (flexible) boogies allows trains to take sharper curves for the same length of a car, hence the generally shorter cars and one of the reasons why Pacers, which seem to have a normal car length, are so horrible at taking curves. In addition, an issue which inherintly applies to all low-floor trains unless the floor on the boogies is raised, the gangways are pretty narrow because of the wheels and for all low-floor trains, you can't place doors nor design the interior however you want (one of the best examples are the DB Bauriehe 423, 424 and 425 trains used on some S-Bahn systems which are almost identical in appearance but the former is high floor and has got three pairs of doors per car while the latter are low floor and only feature two pairs of doors). That the doors still are placed next on the gangways on the Talgo 350 is only possible because of the single axile design. Furthermore, the motors still have to exist somewhere and by lowering the floor, you either have to use a locomotive or smaller engines. It's this reason why bilevel EMUs such as the KISS and TWINDEXX are a relatively recent development and high-speed EMUs don't really work with a low floor design either, they can only work when there are dedicated engine cars (i.e. power cars or locomotives) and the Talgo 350 is no exception. The complains that the ICE 4, which is build relatively recently, isn't a low-floor EMU is another example where accessibility succumbs to engineering and physics.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks for the great comment! I suppose one exception to the low-floor high-speed rule is the SBB Giruno, built by Stadler.

[@peterelvery]

The Talgo wheelsets are steered, unlike those on the pacer, and so are always aligned with the rails. The shorter car length is necessary to allow clearance for normal cabin width on the inside of curves because the wheelset virtual pivot points are outside the carbody dimensions.

[@MarioFanGamer659]

​@@SuperalbsTravels Actually, I forgot about that train. Indeed, thinking about it, Stadler's specialisations are likely powerful but still compact motors or at least finding ways to put motors even on the more difficult to reach locations but I could be wrong. Either way, that knowledge is an advantage for low-floor HST. Even then, the SMILE's top speed is 250 km/h (for comparison, the older, powercar hauled Euroduplex is bilevel and thus low-floor by design and has a top speed of 320 km/h) which is the lower end of high speed, though there has been successes to reach a speed of 285 km/h. Furthermore, the floor isn't uniformly low floor either unlike on the Talgo 350, though I'm lacking quite a bit of knowledge for the specific reasons (not all low-floor trains have their whole floors raised near the boogies, for that matter; the aforementioned 424 and 425 trains are some of these examples).

[@kneonspace]

The only reason that low floor even exist is because the eu is stupid and has rules that only allow for 750 or 550 mm above track height platforms. Witch prevents Europe from building higher platforms that work with high floor trains unless you get a special exception like the Berlin S-bahn has. Most platforms are at 840mm above the track with is just enough to clear the height of a normal flexible wheelset. In the Netherlands we also had a plan in the 80sto rease platform heights to 840mm but they were lowered back down to 750mm dur to that stupid 1996 eu directive that was as far as i know well intentioned but un my opinion made making good intercity and regional rail a lot more difficult for no reason.

[@kneonspace]

@Paseos por Madrid no, im not from great-britan and i never mentioned them in my reply. The thing that i don't like about that directive is that it pushes for rail privatization (altough locally there are a few things you can do to not privatize) . the thing is that privatization with public serving, money losing utilities generally doesn't work. the prifit compagnies will run trains on profitable routes and reduce the profit that the pubic entity can make on that route. but the public compagnie still has to run a lot of unprofitable lines but now with less money so that creates funding shortfalls that politicians generally don't want to cover causing the unprofitable lines to fall into disrepair. I don't want that. i know that you can use competitive tender to solve some of these problems but that introduces its on problems like the Uk that u accused me of defending had.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Quack quack 🦆

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Oh you do make me laugh! 😂😂

[@Combes_]

🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

[@klausbriesma9050]

They have a great personality

[@Thefishyperson]

Indeed my fellow fowl

[@Designer_TopG]

Pato . The front looks like a duck !

[@markellis6413]

If you look at what Santa Justa station used to look like before it was rebuilt with the arrival of the high speed line, it had much more character. Love Spain's gauge changing technology.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Was that Santa Justa, or another station? I seem to remember there was another station, which is some sort of shopping centre now.

[@markellis6413]

@@SuperalbsTravels You're right, I'm misremembering. There were 2 stations I think in Seville before the arrival of the high speed line to Madrid and they joined all the lines up when they opened Santa Justa. Rationalisation has its clear benefits but also has aesthetic drawbacks.

[@andressorin1205]

You may refer to Seville’s former ”Estación de Sevilla-Plaza de Armas”, usually called “Estación de Córdoba“, or “Cordoba Station“. It was built in the moorish revival architecture and it was transformed into a shopping mall.

[@alebroker7587]

@@markellis6413 I think you are talking about Cordoba Station (now turned into a shopping center, it even has a club call Uhopia). and the other one a bit smaller was Cadiz Station.

[@josemanuelsolares9574]

@@andressorin1205 Creo que se refiere a la de San Bernardo

[@williamjones7163]

I love how you speak Spanish with an British accent.

[@ant647448336]

Thank you for sharing! My sister caught the AVE from Malaga to Madrid a couple of months ago and loved it, whereas I normally drive up from Gibraltar to Madrid and takes around 7 hours including stops. Good to see CQM Airport getting emptier, as I was there on my spotting trip last year and it was fairly busy.

[@jesusborregon6633]

I am from Sapin and when you mencioned that 7 AM is not exactly early, take note that the normal starting time for a job in spain is 9AM. Those stores probably open at 9AM that is very normal in Spain.

[@jesusborregon6633]

Even huge shopping malls open at 9 AM in Spain. It is just the way the schedule works.

[@albertfronton3634]

Plus, he was in Andalucía... Early for us is around 11am😂😂

[@Transpennine]

Spain have really succeeded in building a high speed rail system! You can Go from Malaga (south spain) direct to Madrid (central spain) in Around 2 hours! Brilliant if you ask me.

[@yaush_]

Bro you cannot. I travelled between Madrid and Malaga a few times on the ave and it takes like 4 hours

[@Transpennine]

@@yaush_ it’s 3 hours actually so both of us are wrong

[@AL5520]

Nice video but I have a few remarks. 1. RENFE have 3 levels of service, with two seating options in Elige, which is not that unique nor confusing . A few weeks ago you traveled with Italo that has 4 levels, with up to 4 price levels for each of them and you, apparently, was fine with it. 2. I've never felt less comfortable on that model of train, nor did others I know (including other reviewers). Maybe the fact that you had preconceptions on this model cause you're conclusion. 3. The service is called AVE - as a word A-VE and not A.V.E. - yes, it is an acronym (for Alta Velocidad Española) but it's also a word that means bird so you say it as a word. 4. I always appreciate your effort to pronounce names correctly so for future Spanish names remember the acento that shows which part you emphasize like with Andalucía you cmphesize the cía (on the I). 5. Spain's high speed network is not "one of the longest in the world", it's the second longest, behind China, and the longest per capita. 6. Iryo is a Spanish company. It is owned by Air Nostrom, which is a Spanish airline and the major share holder. Trenitalia is also an owner. 7. As I've mentioned Iryo, they will operate on quite a few lines, including Sevilla-Madrid (starting 31st March 2023). OuiGo will also expand it's services to other lines during 2023, they already operate on the Madrid-Valencia line).

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank for the comment. I'll reply to each point. 1. I think Italo has a better way of showing the options, with their pricing grid. I'm just more used to seperate classes, rather than price bands like here. 2. It wasn't less comfortable, however there was definitely some lateral hunting, which most trains don't have. I have experience MUCH worse on traditional trains though. 3. Thanks for that. 4. That's interesting, I wasn't aware. Thanks! 5. True, but still one of the longest in the world. 6. Valid point, I suppose it's Italian trains and shareholders. Got confused! 7. I'm looking forward to the expansion, we really are spoilt for choice.

[@uri23639]

@@SuperalbsTravels You are right, ride quality in Talgo trains is not terrible, but is also not as good as in more conventional designs. In very good track as in a high speed line is acceptable, but in not as good track I would take a normal bogie carriage as the much prematurely retired series 9000 or 10000 any time over a Talgo. @AL5520, Perhaps I amb biased against Talgo NOW. I can assure you I wasn't the first time I was on a Talgo IV from Tarragona to Barcelona. In fact, I was pretty excited about it, as it was the flagship train in our country. What I wasn't expecting was that the ride quality was worse than the humble Series 440 that got us to Tarragona that same morning. Talgo trains can be amazing, they can do things that no other can reliably and rapidly, but ride quality is not their strongest point. Most people doesn't notice because they simply do not care, as normal people do not care if they fly an Airbus or a Boeing. A train is a train and they want to get from A to B rapidly and on time, that's it. By the way, the max speed through Puertollano is 65 kph because of the curve at the Northern end of the station. That's because, by design, this line was not to be a fully high speed line but a broad gauge higher speed bypass from Madrid to Cordoba to avoid the Despeñaperros gorge line that was considered too difficult to upgrade. Then, when the works had already started on part of the new line, a switch was made to build a "proper" standard gauge high speed line all the way from Madrid to Seville, but it was too late to change the original layout of the line.

[@juarez6681]

This model is a Renfe 102 Class, named "Pato" (Duck), but there is another model named "Patito" (Duckling), the 130 class. They are literally the mother and the baby

[@konradson]

7:00 a.m. in Spain is early. In Madrid it is not as early as in Seville, because of the journeys workers have to do in a much bigger city everyday... But that is the time many people wake up to go to work. Spain's time is one hour over the time Spain should have (2 during summer).

The Atlantic coast of Galicia is even worse, more than 2.5 hours off during “summertime” and more than 1.5 hours off during “wintertime.”

[@viquiben4919]

Not in the whole Spain. Here in the Canary Islands we have GMT time.

@@viquiben4919, and that (UTC) is the (geographically) wrong time zone too. And during “summertime” it’s even worse, about 2 hours and 12 minutes off in Hierro, the westmost island of the archipelago.

[@atarihotel]

Thank you for the train videos. I'm in poor health and traveling just isn't my future, so videos like these let me see what I otherwise won't be able to.

[@Roman-hx3qj]

Personally, I have to admire the fact that the Spanish government and industry had the foresight to create a network and service that is among the very best in the world. There are many western nations that would like to have it including my country the USA. Their trains are like someone else stated “Works of art”

[@SuperalbsTravels]

True, the USA railway is very disappointing to be honest, sadly. 😥

[@V100-e5q]

You have to thank the European Union for that.

[@Roman-hx3qj]

@@V100-e5q yes indeed the European Union has much to do with it but Spains commitment is enormous. It is not like Spain received at handout. I believe in the Union and appreciate all of its members commitments to making it work.

[@axwleurope9519]

​@@V100-e5q Spanish taxpayers I would say. Be serious and fair

[@y0Milan]

@@axwleurope9519 German taxpayers*

[@mdhazeldine]

Yes. Spain, finally! It's about time Spain's network got some attention. I don't understand why it's the 2nd biggest high speed network in the world and hardly anyone talks about it. I'd love to see you cover more of the network and more types of stock, especially the gauge changing ones, which are really interesting. I'm curious...when you ask us "would you like to see a video on X?", do you actually plan your schedules on how we respond? Because if I were in your shoes, I'd think it makes more sense to record a bunch of videos in one country on one trip, and then edit them and upload them all once I'm back home (and maybe space them out over time) rather than flitting all over the place back and forth. This isn't a criticism, I'm just thinking it makes more logical sense to do it in batches, to save money!

[@pedrocaparros1413]

Because Spain is diferent?

[@juansanchezdominguez7885]

@@pedrocaparros1413 jajajajajajaj buena esa

[@SuperalbsTravels]

It depends. Sometimes I will have already recorded them, and will listen to feedback in order to prioritise what I edit next. But not always, which can help me decide where to go next.

[@mdhazeldine]

@Paseos por Madrid I've not seen many videos about Spanish railways on KZbin. They definitely don't get as much attention as, say the TGV, Eurostar, ICE etc.

[@budapestkeletistationvoices]

@@mdhazeldine probably there are many with Spanish narration. Although trainspotting isn't that easy and straightforward in Spain as you will need an authority from Adif at least 30 days prior to your planned day and they require a lot of documents

[@SeverityOne]

"...I visited at 7 AM, which isn't exactly early." Well, actually, yes it is. In any other country it wouldn't be, but as you already pointed out in the video, Spain basically lives in the wrong time zone. (Another remnant of the Franco era. That era explains a lot of things that might seem strange about Spain.) So while Portugal does the sensible thing and use UTC+0 (basically GMT) as its winter time, Spain is on UTC-1. The Spaniards solved this by doing everything an hour later. So your 7 AM is actually more like 6 AM, and that's just very early.

[@osasunaitor]

Yes, thank you for pointing that out! As a spaniard it feels normal to me that everything is closed at 07, I didn't quite understand his surprise. Here, everything opens from 08 in the morning.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Fair enough, I hadn't thought about that. I'm normally a night owl anyway, so this would actually be better for me hahaha.

To be fair, Portugal (at least Lisbon and most other of its coastal municipalities) is in the wrong time zone too. It should be UTC-1 (UTC-0.55 in the case of Lisbon) rather than UTC. PS: Spain (except for the Canary Islands) official time zone is UTC+1 (UTC+2 during “summertime”), not UTC-1.

[@lzh4950]

Same here in Singapore & western Malaysia where they are in the UTC+8 timezone (so the sun can rise as late as 0715h even though the climate is tropical) as these neighbouring countries wanted to standardize their timezones w east Malaysia, where that timezone would be geographically accurate

[@SeverityOne]

@ Well, actually, most of Europe lives in the wrong time zone. My native Netherlands does, and it's crazy that when you go out at eight in the morning in winter it's still pitch dark. I now live in Malta, which is on the same longitude as Frankfurt an der Oder (German/Polish border), Prague, and Naples. So you get around 10 hours of sunlight during the heart of winter, and at decent hours, too.

[@spriggy40]

in 2019 i did the madrid atocha to alicante high speed train service , it was one of the best things i have ever been on brilliant service really enjoyed it and would recommend it

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Sounds nice! Was that one of these Talgo trains? :)

[@spriggy40]

@@SuperalbsTravels yeh it was the duck one

[@rafaellago3480]

Everything is relative, evidently, and compartative. But it is important to compare like with like. I was an everyday train passanger in the UK for 20 years, and I am now a regular AVE service user in Spain, and I must say theres is no valid comparison than can be made. The spanish service being far superior to any long distance (or short distance for that matter) trains service I used in the UK. This includes all categories you mention in your clip: speed, ride comfort, facilities onboard, price, ease of use, stations, even online ticketing. Sorry mate, but service value for money, Spanish trains are overall of the very best in Europe.

[@JackGourdon-je4ze]

nice i love the way you pronounce the words, pure elegance

[@etbadaboum]

The Google Earth animation from one train station to another with overlaid route is really great, haven't seen it anywhere else. One thing to add though would be a final zoom out such as locating each locations related to the country they are in.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you! Whilst that isn't quite practical, I am trying to make the maps show the location a bit better as you say. 👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

This is why Spain has got the best railways in Europe. Spain loves competing with other countries that have high speed railways.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

The presence of competition certainly seems to be working very well on the high-speed lines. I look forward to trying some of the private companies.

[@osasunaitor]

This only applies to high speed services though. Conventional trains are in pretty bad conditions and the service is unbelievably scarce and unreliable in vast sections of the country. Spain is capable of the best and the worst at the same time.

[@comic.sans24]

@@osasunaitor not much worst than Germany where normal trains are almost always late. I am very frustrated when I visit Germany except by the use of ICE. It is exactly same than Spain. High speed is always better network than conventional trains.

Or rather, “France” loves to sell its TGVs to “Spain” (i. e., the Spanish government).

[@comic.sans24]

@ we've got a mix of trains made in France (Alstom AVE Serie 100, like the TGV's), Germany (Siemens AVE Serie 103, like ICE), or Spain (Talgo and CAF High Speed trains like series 102, 112 or 104). The ERTMS used for traffic control also is made by germans Siemens, canadien Bombardier, spanish Thales or japanese Hitachi.

[@TwoWholeWorms]

Aww, you missed the botanical gardens at Atocha at the end of the video. :( They're back open now, though without the invading terrapins that had made their home there! I don't think I've actually been on a Duck yet. The HSTs we have up here in Barna are almost all either Siemens ICEs or TGV Duplexes, though there are a few that are run as half-units on medium-distance services. I'm really looking forward to them introducing the new trains, as they're supposed to be a lot more comfortable than the existing fleets! Re: Iberian gauge, I think it should become the standard worldwide. Renfe's standard commuter trains are _so_ much roomier than their equivalents in London, and you almost always get a seat even at rush-hour. It's just a nicer experience, y'know?

[@almudenada]

Yeah I also kinda wanted him to go into the public part of Atocha because it's really quite nice, I really love the XIX century structure and the botanical gardens.

[@stevejones2310]

The train doesn't look strange to me. It would be great if the UK had invested in an electric high speed rail network. We're way behind Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Japan in this respect.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

It is a real shame, yup... :(

[@rolands.6439]

Interrail is european Rail enthusiast youtubers dream. It makes sense financially and good for you. You can see the whole of europe and enjoy all the trains of about 33 countries! Thanks for sharing!!

[@heidirabenau511]

I would love a video on a gauge changing trains!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Awesome! I'll have to see what I can do...

[@lordvaikon]

I enjoy your videos primarily because you have a comprehensive voice over instead of subtitles alone. I can keep watching and listening at the same time. Request: can you please also mention the price of all classes instead of just the one you’re traveling on? Would like to know all the options. Thanks!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy my voiceover. I love making these videos! Whilst I can't cover every single pricing detail, I will definitely try to include more details on the other options in the future.

[@davidGA殿]

1:20 I mean, when the sun gets out by ~8 am, it’s quite early xd. 3:05 At my station the security check is super quick (when there aren’t many people around) and the ticket check is a QR code scan. 15:33 As he said in the video, Iryo (supported by Trenitalia) now has routes in the east, central and south of Spain. And the train that can be seen in the background is Ouigo’s, which is SNCF’s low cost brand.

[@Lacteagalaxia]

El pato es un tren magnífico👍

[@SuperalbsTravels]

😁😁😁

[@konradson]

You may like to know that an old fashioned TALGO (Tren Articulado Ligero Goicoetxea Oriol), is almost as fast as AVE. When the new railway was stablished 30 years ago, TALGO's from the 50's time was only 30 more minutes for the journey!

[@luismiguelsoria7985]

Es que los ave son Talgo

[@konradson]

@@luismiguelsoria7985 Originalmente no, los de hace 30 años eran tecnología Francesa, sin embargo, los TALGO de aquella época, lo único que necesitaban para coger velocidad era unas vías nuevas...

[@klausbriesma9050]

Talgo old trains looked like shinkanshen trains, very advanced for that time back in the 60s even 40s. They were extremely fast and ligth. Great tech

[@EuroScot2023]

Personally, I like the long nose style of these Talgos - not dissimilar to the style of some of the newer Japanese High Speed trainsets. One advantage which no one seems to have pointed out is the superior protection offered to the driver by that extended 'crumple-zone' in the event of a collision.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Very good point! :)

[@TheExileFox]

It also probably is more gradual when comes to pressure changes when entering a tunnel. The X2000 train in Sweden makes my ears feel like bleeding since the it's like being hit by a wall. (and yes, I know of the supposed tricks, they barely have any effect)

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

The Talgo was developed in Spain in the early 1940s, when much of the rest of Europe was embroiled in a war.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

True, really has been going a long time!

[@edwardvincentbriones5062]

in my country, the Philippines, which has more than 300 years of Spanish colonial occupation, we pronounced Ciudad “Shoo-dud” and it sounded pleasant

[@RichardHoogstad]

This train kind of reminds me of a platypus rather than a duck. However it was really pleasant using this train from Cordoba to Sevilla and at times it did reach a speed of 300 km/h

[@MiTaReX]

That's funny to me because in Russian a word for platypus is "утконос" - literally "ducknose" and the older name for the species in English is "duck-billed platypus", so that all brings us back to a duck in some manner. :)

[@klausbriesma9050]

Talgo 350 has amazing features put all together. Lowest energy consume in hst market, low floor boarding, lowest weight, noise reduction entering tunnels thanks to it's peak shape (everything has a purpose), facilities for disabled people, faster speed in curves due to its tilting system and length of coaches....

[@samtrak1204]

The cafe car is delicious😋 The first class decor and furnishings are very classy.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I certainly agree! Thanks for watching. :)

[@DKS225]

Interestingly Seville is the start of the world's longest unbroken train journey. Around 10,000kms starting from Seville and goes right through to Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam via Europe, Russia and China in that order.

You have to take into account that 7 AM in Seville equates to 6 AM in UK or even earlier since Seville is 6° west from Greenwich/London (0°) but the official time is UTC+1 (or UTC+2 during “summertime”) rather than UTC (or UTC+1 during “summertime”).

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Interesting! Good thing too, as it was fairly busy.

[@klausbriesma9050]

Schedules in Spain are different for everything you do. Lunchtime is at 14.00, dinner at 21.00.

@@klausbriesma9050, translation: lunchtime between 12 and 13 h, and dinner time between 19 and 20 h dinnertime in London.

[@las1147]

While in all of Europe you still had to go up a whole staircase to board a train, Talgo already had stepless entry 😊 To make that work though, they had to do that whole trick with the single axle.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

True, the level boarding is definitely an advantage! Especially for persons with reduced mobility.

[@klausbriesma9050]

​@@SuperalbsTravels due to this system talgo trains are the most ligth weight high speed trains in the world and the most efficient in energy consume.

[@Picolinni]

Hopefully Australia will be getting one of those gauge changers!

[@jesusmanuelquesada7361]

La verdad es que si tenemos una muy buena Red de ferrocarriles en todo general, pero el AVE es una pasada, España Loveeeeeee os esperamos a todos

[@rikardlalic7275]

Indeed, a video on changing guages and their mutual implementations on Spain railroads I would find very interesting.

[@BrianSeaman]

Brilliant film and information - thanks as always. It would be great to see what travel is like on one of the gauge changing trains. Cheers :)

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you very much, really appreciate your comment! I'll try and ride the gauge changing train soon...

[@urieltamir91]

If we state the facts then the locomotive is similar to the Japanese locomotive of the high speed trains, the difference starts with the seats of the passengers compared to the seats on the Spanish train and well it will take another 50 years for Spain to reach the Japanese trains of today because they are constantly finding new trains

[@jdlazar]

Yes yes yes. Would love a video of the gauge changing trains

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Okay, I will try and film that! Thanks for the comment. :)

[@DiederikAms]

FYI: 7 am is ridiculously early, especially in a country where evenings only start at 11pm

[@flickrscreen]

I'm saddened Trenhotel is no more. It was my preferred passage between Spain and Portugal. Great memories of meals in the groovy 70s-styled club car.

[@DarrylTalks]

I think traveled on one of those trains on Barcelona to Madrid, when they just opened a new line about 15 years ago, they did not operate at full speed. But the trip was nice, were in first class, and the trip included lunch and drinks.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Sounds great! I'd love to try the food. :)

[@andrewpepper8031]

It looks a very interesting train. Nice to see your videos are back.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you very much!

[@alexus267]

Just took a ride on an older Algeciras-Madrid Talgo, the one that changes gauge (and locomotive) in Antequera. It only reaches 200 kmh on high speed sections, but then it shakes randomly side to side quite heavily, like hitting flanges and bouncing back. Then it rides smoothly for a few minutes. That was weird. The air pressure shock from an oncoming train is also more noticeable than on TGV, but I wouldn't call it violent.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

That's the lateral hunting I experienced too, though mine was not as brutal.

[@MrTryxxter]

Yes of course we want a video of a gauge change train journey!! 😄

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Coming soon!

[@MrTryxxter]

@@SuperalbsTravels good stuff, look forward to it 🙂

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip. Finally you are back again. I prefer ticket and security checking before entering the platform. Correct me if I wrong, there is Japan Shinkansen which can operate between standard gauge for high speed and narrow gauge line.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks, it's good to be back! And yeah, Japan has a few gauge changing trains. My first time having a gauge change was in Ukraine, and that took hours! In Spain, it takes just a few seconds.

[@andressorin1205]

I’ve heard the Talgo jauge-changing system now operates at the Polish-Belorussian border.

[@mici01]

They will soon have loco hauled siblings in Germany and Denmark ... DB and DSB will get some Talgo 230 sets soon. They will have the same short wagon one axile design.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Yep, the Talgo trains certainly do end up everywhere. Soon, some will be starting service in Nigeria!

[@johnmarshall9346]

I love the fact there is always an interesting never knew that fact in every video you make. Well done.

[@budapestkeletistationvoices]

@@johnmarshall9346 Frecciarossa is starting in Spain shortly. Between Madrid and Barcelona and some other lines you will have an abundance of choice of TOCs: SNCF, Trenitalia and RENFE's low cost AVLO and conventional high speed services

[@andressorin1205]

I’ve traveled on a Talgo train in… Uzbekistan! From Tashkent to Samarcand.

[@klausbriesma9050]

​​@@SuperalbsTravels also operating in Canada, USA, Uzbekistan,Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, Thailand...Russia...

[@TripsonBudget]

Amazing Video. I really like how you edit and present it. A huge improvement compared to the first videos you started to do voice overs. Congrats :)

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you so much! I didn't even realise how different this was to my first voiceover videos, but I am sure glad you enjoyed it.

[@iberohispano_galaico]

How beautiful it's to travel by train 🥲

[@SuperalbsTravels]

It really is! 😍

[@kieranstravels]

Good to have you back albie:) I have to say, these look absolutely bizarre to me, although, I think they’ve grown on me a bit. It’s also weird to see a unit that’s not a pacer with a single axle layout, especially when this train goes literally double the pacer’s speed limit! Still, a fantastic video as always. And Yes, we all do want that video on gauge switchers!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you very much! It certainly was surprising for me to see such a strange design. And I'll try and get a video on the gauge changing train soon! :)

[@budapestkeletistationvoices]

I want to ride the infamous HS2. Where is it?

[@SuperalbsTravels]

@@budapestkeletistationvoices We're working on it! 🤣

[@budapestkeletistationvoices]

@@SuperalbsTravels the project is at good Boris hands. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6nac4eDeK6pfpI My fear is that it won't be affordable

[@kieranstravels]

@@budapestkeletistationvoices Wait until 2092. Phase 1a will be operational then.

[@stasfigua7342]

The best ticket checking experience I've had was with RegioJet in the Czech Republic. I've bought the ticket online and selected my seat form a carriage plan. Than I got on the train, the steward gave me water, and marked on his tablet that I sat in my seat. No scanning codes, no hassle. Probably if I'd travel with a special discount I'd have been asked for a document, but that's all.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

That's a good thing on some operators, SJ do it too, and MTRX. I've just been on them both. :)

[@teotik8071]

The last video feels like ages ago. Thanks for posting a new one. 🤗

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Yep, it was one problem after another, leaving one month between videos. Oops! I'm back now, and I've got so many exciting videos. :)

[@A_Canadian_In_Poland]

Having been to Spain and Portugal for research trips, I noticed lots of extremely lightly used rail infrastructure, and that buses are far more popular across the Iberian peninsula for whatever reason.

[@heidirabenau511]

Nice to see a video on the channel after a 4 week break!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks! I'm glad to be back.

[@Bagelrob399]

And here in the States we got Amtrack at a blazing 70mph and numerous stops.

[@marti5935]

Great video! I would appreciate more videos about the Spain rail network here on yt :D

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Okay, I will record and edit more! :)

[@havelmg]

This line is being equipped with ERTMS now as it was the first one built in the country and back then ERTMS didn't exist. It will increase capacity and reliability. It was not fully built to the high speed standard along the entire route but only some sections, that is why it doesn't reach 300 km/h as often as it should.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I don't think we hit 300km/h at all on this trip, mostly 200km/h or 250km/h.

[@redsbricks5993]

The new Talgo S106 trains supposedly have a much, much smoother bogie system while stilll having one axle. They will also reach higher speeds.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

This is very interesting. I look forward to giving that a try.

[@9334emc]

No axis, they are independent wheels

[@ayanmukherjee4489]

I am a fan of TALGO... Specially the ability to change tracks..gauge....It can run on both tracks ballasted and concrete tracks like other country bullet train in Asia...Hope one day I will come to see the Engineering marvelous

[@biscuit715]

Even the basico ticket on one of these is the most comfortable experience I've ever had on a train. Seats are fantastic, almost too much legroom, and the ride is so damn smooth

[@techdefined9420]

The gauge changing system was invented by Talgo. Now used on many parts of the world.

[@iuliuscaesar9078]

Talgo and CAF are the OG´s of european train engeering, since Spain built the saudi arabian network, they are operatin the "Haramain" from Meca to Medina, which a version of the Talgo Avril/350 but made for the desert. Also, Iryo is not italian, is SPANISH-italian, in fact the majority of the ownership is Spanish, it´s property of Intermodalidad de Levante S.A. (ILSA) a valencian based company, and also the engines of the trains they use are manufactured in Vizcaya. But let´s better don´t talk about how dirty are the French playing, Ouigo operates in the Kingdom of Spain but the french don´t allow RENFE to operate AVLO in France.

[@tarragonadreamin]

Good job! I have to give the AVE a try some day. Minor correction. It's Puertollano, not Puertoallano. Puertollano has Spain's only inland refinery, served by a 350 km pipeline from the port of Cartagena.

[@mariadelmarjimenezarroyo]

2:52 I prefer ticket inspection on-board. Because... you can enter the train without a ticket and hide on the toilet so the conductor doesn't see you and you don't get in troubles while travelling for free. And voilà, that's all

[@sabersz]

This was super interesting, thank you for the video!! I'm planning a trip along the UKs High Speed 1 line at some point in 2024... And then maybe I'll pop to Spain to give this a go! Always loved how these trains looked

[@291281]

Excelente vídeo de trenes de alta velocidad española ( AVE ) Saludos desde España

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Gracias! :)

[@kerryfoster1]

Good video. Not been on a train for years, but felt like I had after seeing this. Been from Kings Cross to Newcastle a few times. 3hrs. Look forward to your next one thanks!

[@MrDavidcanet]

Schienenzeppelin In 1930 Franz Kruckenberg invented a revolutionary rail vehicle: a kind of zeppelin on wheels, made from lightweight aluminum, driven by an aircraft engine and a propeller. This futuristic manifestation set a world record with a speed of 230 km/h, only surpassed in 1954. Even after some modifications the Schienenzeppelin was not suitable for regular service. No carriages could be attached, the propeller was dangerous and most tracks were not suitable for such high speeds. Consequently the Reichsbahn developed its own Schnelltriebwagen in 1932.

[@mattheweburns]

Gauge changing trains? Yes please

[@TheMannyx17]

I remember riding a Trenhotel from Barcelona to Galicia in 2018. It was so good. Sad they're gone.

[@jorgecalderon9678]

answering yourself about 7am being not that early and then talking about the late sunrise. Good informative video however.

[@roger55es]

Spains Talgo Great hi speed train low costs and extremely reliable & confortable

[@MidnightVisions]

The Talgo engines didn't last on the Amtrak Cascade Vancouver to Seattle run. They were replaced after 2 years. The rolling stock still runs though.

[@unthinkabilities]

Great video! You might want to look into getting a polarisation filter for your camera. It will greatly reduce window reflections for those beautiful out-of-window landscape shots

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks for the tip! I will look into that, it's one reason why I prefer trains with opening windows. ;)

[@captainboing]

@13:16 check out the dirty mare unpacking her trunk in the reflection. 😆

[@My-Opinion-Doesnt-Matter]

Nice one, a rare Brit who writes km/h correctly. Subscribed...

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you! 😅

[@alang5764]

Great review of an unusual train. As you travelled with an Interrail pass it is worth mentioning just how bad the reservation system is for tourists with interrail, no ability to book seats on their reservation only trains from outside Spain meaning it can be a lottery to even get a space at short notice from a ticket office.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Actually, if you know the right people, you can get them from outside Spain. 😉

[@georgebattrick2365]

@@SuperalbsTravels Tell us more...

[@SuperalbsTravels]

@@georgebattrick2365 Some people will purchase these reservations on the DB ticketing system, then issue these tickets to you by post. I used @DiscoverByRail, link here: discoverbyrail.com/contact-me/

[@georgebattrick2365]

@@SuperalbsTravels DB as in German Railways, or have I misunderstood? I thought they were only available within Spain.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

@@georgebattrick2365 Yes that's the right DB. Nope, it's hard for the staff to do, but it's possible. Agents who specifically know the details of it will be able to sort it for you.

[@kosmosgelao8581]

4:06 absolutely heartbroken 😦 lol. Glad you enjoyed the journey. Nice report!👍

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Hahaha sorry! 😅 Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed!

[@marilynvallance]

I travelled on a tren hotel from Monforte de Lemos in Lugo province, Galicia to Charmartin Station in Madrid, then changed to AVE Pato train from Atocha to Málaga. An amazing journey but since (13 yrs ago) I have travelled to Galicia from Málaga by air.

[@da7thguest]

7am is the middle of the night in Spain, no wonder all was closed. :D

[@CIaudiator]

It is strange that all the little shops and bars inside the station are closed, I was in that station last July and they were open at 7:40am

[@mehurar]

Did Cadiz- Sevilla once, loved it :)

[@Ztbmrc1]

Nice train, It looks like those Japanese high speed trains!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Ooh yeah, they have some duck-like ones there too!

[@SargentoDuke]

Actually the New Japanese duck nose trains look like the spanish ones that were first. The train of this video its a 2000's design, the Japanese copied it abandoning the classic shinkanshen plane nose.

[@SargentoDuke]

Actually the New Japanese duck nose trains look like the spanish ones that were first. The train of this video its a 2000's design, the Japanese copied it abandoning the classic shinkanshen plane nose.

[@RWBHere]

The shape of the nose was an idea from a Japanese designer who realised that the dolphin nose, or as we might call it, the duck bill, is actually very good aerodynamically. Oh, and the carriages don't have full width axles at all. Each wheel is mounted independently. Being pedantic, there are four very small axles, but they're really hubs.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thanks! This train's design is really interesting, that is for sure.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for a great video. I really like the high speed Talgo units. The ride can be a little lively, but having ridden on that route in both their TGV type, and the Class103s, there really is little difference in the ride quality. Perhaps the track needs some attention !

[@ronalddevine9587]

Wish we had this in the USA.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

I agree! It would be amazing!

[@francisquito4590]

the talgo 350 is a good looking train imo, i prefer it to the boring standard design most high speed trains have

[@klausbriesma9050]

And it's the most ligth weight train hence its has the lowest energy consume

[@mikepowell2776]

The gauge-changer outside Cordoba was for the older Talgo 200s which served the Madrid - Malaga service. It was Iberian gauge south of Córdoba until the AVA reached Malaga. North of Córdoba the regained trains ran on the high-speed line, departing immediately behind the Seville AVE and hoping to reach Atocha before the one behind caught up. They were limited, as I recall, to about 190 kph.

[@klausbriesma9050]

Also the Talgo 250 has a gauge changing system

[@topquarkbln]

Thanks for sharing, I like this unique solution though I deplore stopping night trains. I love night trains ❤️!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Same here! Night trains are my absolute favourite, anywhere in the world.