Page 505 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

High Speed Rail in Spain - a statement from a foreign expert

Overview about the rolling stock roster for EMU’s running over the core section Córdoba -
Barcelona

Figure 12 presents a very intensively used rolling stock roster with an average daily
running performance of almost 3360 km per day. The high daily running performance
may require a level one maintenance (bogie inspection) after every running day. It is
assumed that equipment for this step is available at every station, where an EMU stands
overnight.

Generally it is assumed that maintenance is exclusively carried out only during night. For
this topic the author wants to point out to the new strategy of SNCF in this manner, which
is explained up-to-date in source [8].

When the CEO of SNCF Voyages, Rachel Picard, points out that in future trains will be in
service for 13 hours per day, it may be stated that the rolling stock roster presented in
figure 12 is in line with this rule. RENFE isn’t affected with the disadvantage of running AVE
trains in section on classic lines like in France. And in Spain the EMU’s don’t have to take
into account an overtaking of one in front running EMU in an intermediate station like in
Japan and China. At least it must be mentioned that source [3] reads in topic 4.2.5 “The
turn-back time of immediate turn-back multiple units should not be longer than 20 min”
([3] p.11)

The overall need of the rolling stock roster amounts to 87 running days. Only during Sunday
evening to Monday morning 88 running days are needed. The real amount needed for the
service must refer to the expense for maintenance. For this purpose a referring percentage
must be calculated. This percentage refers to several criteria. If the percentage is assessed
to 15 % than the overall need calculates to 87 x 1,15=100,05 respective 88 x 1,15 = 101,2
≈101 EMU’s. This means in practice 101-87=14 EMU’s are available for daily maintenance
and repair.

The present RENFE fleet of EMU’s capable of running 300 km/h consists of 86 units (via
libre “25 years of Spanish high speed rail”, English version page 68, series 100R, 102, 112
and 103). Currently RENFE is buying an additionally part of 15 EMU’s capable of running
300 km/h. In near future EMU fleet capable of running 300 km/h consist of 86 + 15 = 101
units.

3.10.5 Saving of rolling stock and gauge changing constructions.

As already mentioned the strict regular service concept is aimed to use only one EMU category
on the 300 km/h fast Ave lines. The Avant, Alvia and Alta train sets, which can be saved, are
listed in two figures.

International Congress on High-speed Rail: Technologies and Long Term Impacts - Ciudad Real (Spain) - 25th anniversary Madrid-Sevilla corridor 503