RENFE Class 490

As a series 490 (also RENFE S -490, formerly Intercity 2000) refers to the Spanish railway company RENFE high speed train with tilting technology, connect Madrid with Valencia, with some trains on Valencia addition to Castellon de la Plana or Gandia. They operate under the generic name of Alaris.

Trains are one of the many national variants of the Italian ETR 460 ( Pendolino ) working with an active tilting technology. Timetable default speeds up to 200 km / h can be achieved. Services and comfort before and during the trip will depend on the standard of the aviation industry.

Prehistory

End of October 1994 wrote the RENFE ten electric trains under the name " Inter- City 2000 " for the Express service between Madrid and Valencia. Four months later were available three offers: CAF offered a train with electrical equipment from ( optional) ABB or Siemens to; whose development had not been completed. GEC Alsthom and Fiat offered a derived from the Italian Pendolino train. Talgo offered a Talgo pendular with two power heads, five to six intermediate cars and the passive system. The trains should replace the then 30 -year-old Talgo III trains.

End of January 1996 ordered the RENFE at GEC Alsthom ( as prime contractor ) and Fiat ten three-piece tilting trains at a price of 870 million pesetas. The trains are derived from the ETR 460 and were in a similar form in other European countries. You are able to take advantage of the speed limit on the upgraded for 200 km / h sections of the Madrid- Valencia. The contract with Fiat and Alstom encompassed thereby the supply of 10 tilting trains, the 490 series, as well as an option for the delivery of a further 14 trains, but should not be redeemed later.

The trains were built in the Alstom factory in Santa Perpetua de Mogoda ( near Barcelona ). Deliveries began in the second half of 1998. For the maintenance, by the general contractor Alstom, was at Madrid Atocha train station a three-pronged Wagenhalle. When a delivery is the Intercity trains were called in 2000 and had only one car class. Even before the commercial operation began, the trains were converted to two classes of cars.

They arrived 16 February 1999 Alaris - the commercial name of RENFE Grandes Lineas for high quality connections on the Madrid -Valencia - used. The speed limit was raised to 280 of 480 route kilometers to 200 or 220 km / h through targeted expansions. The shortest travel time between Madrid and Valencia, reducing to 207 minutes. The end of 2000 were offered daily for up to ten pairs of trains between Madrid and Valcenia with the train set.

Technology

The three -car trains are based on those used in Italy ETR 470, of which the aluminum car body and the electrical equipment were taken. The design with its distinctive snout comes from Giorgio Giugiaro.

The trucks with tilting technology had to be adapted for the Spanish broad gauge (1668 mm). Four mounted on the car body traction motors each drive through a propeller shaft to the inner axles of the bogies of the end car. The middle car has no drive, which is rather unusual for the Pendolinokonzept.

The four traction motors provide an output of 510 kW. The power is supplied via two pantographs on the non-drive intermediate cars.

Up to three units can operate as a multiple unit.

The tilting technology allows you to go through sheets with a lateral acceleration of 1.8 m / s ² ( instead of 1.0 m / s ²).

Passenger compartment

The first class large capacity compartment is located in an end car. The second - class saloons are located in the other end cars, and in the half of the middle car, where there is also a compartment is disabled. The other half of the middle car is occupied by the kitchen and bistro area.

All saloons are equipped with aircraft seating. In each compartment, each half of the seats in the direction of travel look with a seating area in the middle of the compartment in Vis -à-vis seating.

From 160 seats amounting to 49 to the first class.

Service

Services and comfort before and during the trip will depend on the standard of the aviation industry. As with other Spanish long-distance trains ( AVE, Euromed, Arco and Talgo ) the use is subject to reservation.

1st Class ( Preferente )

The first class is called Preferente and is housed in an end car. In Greater compartment a single seat each on one side of the aisle a two seat group, on the other hand placed. Every seat has a folding table, for Audio / Video, Trash, own armrests, footrests and adjustable backrests.

In fare 1st class besides the actual transportation, the following services included:

• Free parking at the station of departure (24 hours for a single ticket, 48 hours for a return ticket )
• Access to the lounge at the departure station
• Newspaper
• Welcome drink and food in place

2nd class ( Turista )

The second class is called Turista is in the other end cars, and in the half of the middle car housed. In the Greater compartments a two seat group located on either side of the aisle. The comfort of the seats is similar to the first class, except that there is a common armrest in the middle of the seating area, and the seat pitch and seat width are smaller than in the first class.

Operation

The trains have been used since 16 February 1999 on the Madrid - Albacete- Xativa -Valencia.

Since early 2007, 11 pairs of trains operate Madrid- Valencia, which is led by two Castellón de la Plana and one by Gandia on. The travel time between Madrid and Valencia is currently 3 hours and 20 minutes. The ongoing expansion of the route, the journey time will be shortened in the future. In the long term a journey time of only two and a half hours is sought. The tilting technology contributes only two minutes to travel time reduction and consequently serves more passenger comfort increase.