Breaking: Another Crack Found in Talgo Train Bogies!

During a routine inspection on July 21, cracks were found in the bogie frames of Renfe's Avril trains (Series 106) in Spain. All five trains on the line underwent checks. Due to part shortages, some trains were withdrawn from the Madrid-Barcelona route, forcing Renfe to adjust its operation plan.

The Avril trains, in operation for less than a year, face another issue—manufacturer Talgo was fined €116 million earlier for delivery delays. In 2019, Talgo won the contract for 30 high-speed trains (including 30-year maintenance) with a low bid of €1.495 billion, with price accounting for 65% of the evaluation. Despite leading in technical scores, current bogie cracks and speed restrictions have sparked disputes. Contract transparency is also questioned as the full content remains undisclosed.