Is this really Europe’s worst EVER train?

This is Europe's WORST high-speed train - the terrible Talgo Avril! 🤢

Join me for a rough and uncomfortable journey through Spain aboard the country's newest Talgo train operating on the Renfe AVE service. This isn't going to be an easy trip in Renfe AVE First Class, on what could well be Europe's worst train...

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Journey Details:
Origin: Madrid-Chamartín
Destination: Gijón
Company: Renfe
Train: Renfe S106 (Talgo Avril)
Accommodation: Premium Confort Seat (1st)
Distance: 476 kilometres / 296 miles
Price: €71.80 (£60.60 / $76.90)
Time: 3 hours 36 minutes, arrived 4 minutes late

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Find me elsewhere:

[willingshelf]

Madrid Chamartín has some construction works going on at the moment.

It doesn’t matter when you’re reading this

[hibuddy]

7:45 Talgo Avril is NOT a "premium" high-speed train, in fact it is a budget high speed train, they made them as cheaply as possible and that reflects in the price per unit as well as obviously in the ride

[ctyl]

My wife and I have just spent a couple of weeks travelling through Spain on TALGOs. Although there is noticeable vibration as the video describes, comfort was 'adequate' and distances covered for the price(s) were excellent value for us. Locals did not seem to have a problem with the train. Really enjoy the channel - thank you - but I too think 'nightmare' is an overstatement, unless the video gets extra views from this title!!

[thakuromkarsingh]

The funny part is that their worst is better than our best

[joe]

“nightmarish journey” ; you seem a bit exaggerated and overly critical as well as already prejudiced.

[mckiwen]

The story is as follows, 2016 there is a new contract launched for new trains that must have +500 seats, be accesible and able to change gauge and ride at over 300 km/h borh in 1435 mm gauge and 1668 mm gauge.

Talgo won the contract offering a 40% discount and almost 50% cheaper than Alstom offer. You get what you paid for.

[alejandrovr]

I have travelled twice in these trains and in my case it has been a fantastic experience.

[katrineroberts]

I love travelling by train in Spain. I am over 60 and the prices are wonderful.

[kcopinho]

I am sure Britain possesses better trains with its non existent High Speed Line (HSL) Remember that Spain actually has the second largest HSL network in the world (right after China). Not mentioning price here, I am sure you have to pay between 120-200 pounds for a pleasant 5-6hour ride between Norwich and Manchester. All the best mate and good luck !!!

[EdouardMesan]

According to your detailes descriptions, the train doesn't look so bad at all !... Your video even makes you want to take the trip.

[ebazaez]

"trains? Whats that?"

An average US citizen commented

[javiermedina]

Ive been in Ave many times, rode in all 3 talgo train variants, the Talgo 350, the 280, and the Avril model. In all instances I can’t really say that the experience was uncomfortable or that I hated the experience. For the most part they are alright and I would prefer it to having to be on a bus or airplane.

As for talgo itself as a manufacturer, I can’t really say that all they produce is bad, since their wagons are used in multiple countries and they seem to be running just fine, most of the problems regarding mechanical issues are due to some railways not having proper maintenance on the axle system, it might just be a single pair but it is far more complicated than it looks. However Renfe seems to operate all it’s previous talgo trains with little issues, besides the inevitable breakdown and mechanical repairs that arise as a by product of continued service and use, which is not unique to Spanish trains.

As for the Avril, although I do agree that it is a bit noisier, I don’t think it is that much so, and in all fairness it is still quieter than airplanes or buses. Furthermore they are meant to make high speed railway travel more affordable and accessible for those travelling in Spain, so making things in a cheaper manner is a natural by product of this, such as when they put economy class on airplanes. As for their teething issues, this is mostly due to the trains being new, not just in construction but also in design, it is also the first Talgo train in which all components and power units are designed and produced by Talgo, in an attempt to be more self reliant when supplying trains. As an engineer myself and a railway enthusiast I can tell you that these are normal occurrences when handling newly designed and manufactured equipment, when the Talgo 350 first entered service it was plagued with mechanical failures and breakdowns, but these where eventually worked on and currently they are seen as some of the most reliable high speed trains in Spanidh service. For Avril it is simply a natural progression of handling new equipment, mechanical problems will arise that where either not noticeable or that apear after some time in service, and once they are found they will be fixed accordingly. Over all I see the Talgo Avril as a rather useful and welcoming addition to the Spanish railways.

Also about the complains regarding the tunnels, what did you expect, Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe and laying track on inclines would significantly affect the performance of high speed trains and railway operations entirely, before hand tunnelling wasn’t much of an option but now a days it is, so to cut down time, make it easier on the trains and simplify service, tunnels need to be built. Yes I admit that looking at the country side and environment is very pretty, but at the end of the day it is a scheduled service that is meant to transport people from point A to point B in the shortest time possible.

[joostverra]

Although i totally agree with the shortcomings on this train being pretty bad, "nightmare journey" is quite an overstatement.

[TheGlaive]

I am a Spaniard, and have grownup going all aroud Spain on the Ave. Lately I have tried all 3 of the budget high speed trains in Spain, and they are allright, at the end of the day I would like to see other countries offer the same servive at the same price. Many people in Spain use these trains for their comute. I have travelled all around the world and have yet to find a service similar to it. Also, Chamartin is having renovations. FYI the standard ticket is 18€ for the Talgo Avril, and every seat has standard 220v outlets like the ones you find in your house so you can charge your laptop or what you want.

[andybushi]

Even after all the complaints from previous trains, Talgo still hasn’t learned at all. How, in the name of all that is holy, is that possible?

[jnrfalcon]

You got the reasons wrong. Talgo trains use passive swing tilting design. Because the center of gravity is swing outwards instead of tilting into the curve like active tilting systems. There's a increased risk of derailing especially at high speed. To compensate for that, the center of gravity of the carriages needs to be as low as possible. And the carriages need to be very light, for the same reason of avoiding derailment. Low floor is just a byproduct. So is the bumpy ride, a byproduct of the lightweight construction

[techvoyagers]

Those trains in Romania would be a god's send, compared with the 30 km/h, 10 hours delay moving garbage from the 80's that we have.

[bjorntorlarsson]

I'm a Swede and here (some years ago, I'm not updated but I think it has gotten better) the government run railroad company didn't even keep books on delays shorter than 20 minutes. Still, 80% (eighty percent) of train arrivals were at least 20 minutes delayed! And then I lived for almost a year in Switzerland. As it (unlike Sweden out nowhere) is in the center of everything, railroad is a very practical way to get around. The Intercity IS the International.

In Switzerland 98% of train arrivals were timely. And their definition of being delayed was 1 minute (one minute)! Very remarkable the other way around! But all Swiss complain of their government railroad company anyway. As railroad managers say:
"- That comes with the business, everyone will always complain about the railroads, so it's pointless to try to do anything about it"(!?!)

But the Swiss complained about tunnel building projects costing multiple times more than budgeted and taking many more years to complete than what was initially anticipated (when they held a referrendum about it, yeah, they do things like that). Some people just can never be happy, but make up som "detail" to nag about just because they want to.

[pakkinen]

I think you are missing the point. You have to understand that is cheap high speed traveling. The goal is to go fast and cheap, and they do that. To do that trip you did in 3 and a half hours, by car would be double that time and more money in gas, by plane 4 times the price. If you want all the ammenities and comfort you seem to demand, prices would be double or triple than what they are. Is high speed for the masses, not for some privileged ones.

[TohaBgood]

So 81 mph average speed. That's slower than the Acela on the NY-DC section.