Date: 13.09.2023
Train type: Renfe S112 (Talgo)
Vmax. train: 330 km/h
Vmax. railway: 300 km/h
Travel time: 2:00 h

In this video we travel by a classic of the spanish train industry, the AVE Class 112. This train, and also the same looking Class 102, were built after the typical concept of Talgo, a spanish manufacturer, where two passenger carriages share only one bogie. On one hand this causes a less noisy environment in the train, even at a high speed, but on the other hand it makes the ride quality less smooth. Their nickname "El Pato", which means "The Duck" when translated from Spanish to English, comes from the front look of the power cars. My personal impression of these trains is that they are still very comfortable, even though the ride is more shaky than usual.
This video shows the whole journey by such a Talgo from València, a mediterranean city in the east, to Madrid. The AVE 5171 takes the through station MadridChamartín in the north of the city, in order to continue the journey further north to Burgos Rosa Manzano. Such a route is only possible since July 2022, when the normal gauged tunnel "de la Risa" in Madrid was put into operation. This tunnel connects the high speed line from València with Chamartín, leading past Puerta de Atocha station and the inner city of Madrid, stretching very straight over 7 kilometres. Because the AVE can pass through only 50 to 100 km/h fast, it takes very long. But trains to Puerta de Atocha have to take a part of the high speed railway from Sevilla, while this AVE just stays on the railway from València without having to branch off.

Time indication:

0:01:47 València Joaquin Sorolla
0:22:58 RequenaUtiel
0:56:44 Cuenca Fernando Zóbel
1:30:31 triangle from and to Sevilla/Málaga
1:43:26 entrance of túnel de la Risa
1:54:42 MadridChamartin

Have a nice trip!