Talgo, the leading Spanish company in the design, manufacture and maintenance of high-speed light rail vehicles, celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2022. Talgo’s Rivabellosa plant in Álava, which was set up in 1966, is one of this firm’s key pillars. This plant builds high-tech trains for various continents, in addition to the Vittal One, which is being developed in Rivabellosa and will be the first hydrogen train manufactured in Spain.

The Vittal One is an electric train incorporating a hydrogen engine that feeds a lithium battery, allowing it to run on non-electrified track sections, thus replacing the use of diesel. It is estimated that there are about 80,000 km of non-electrified track sections among the countries of Europe, which consititute 40% of its railway network. Hydrogen technology is a key player in new mobility and for the decarbonisation of industry, a commitment that has become a strategic priority in Europe.
Another of the technological breakthroughs born from this plant in Álava is the Talgo Avril, able to transport more than 600 passengers at 330 km/h, making it the highest speed train in the world. It is the lightest high-speed train in the world, which, given its capacity, results in an energy expenditure per passenger that is difficult to match. In its test phase, this train has exceeded 363 km/h.