Renfe Class 103

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
<p>On 24 March 2001, <a href="/facts/Siemens_Mobility/Slu5d0k6">Siemens</a> won one half of <a href="/facts/Renfe/FVGl0EIF">Renfe</a>'s tender to supply 32 high-speed trains for the <a href="/facts/Madrid%25E2%2580%2593Barcelona_high-speed_rail_line/xPFNdpfA">Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line</a>, offering a modified version of the <a href="/facts/ICE_3/X4d8yPKS">ICE 3</a> high-speed train used by German Railways (<a href="/facts/Deutsche_Bahn/oF3Fe2bV">Deutsche Bahn</a>) for its <a href="/facts/InterCityExpress/TwUF1cHN">InterCityExpress</a> service. Changes involved an up-rate to higher power (8,800 kW or 11,800 hp) for higher acceleration and top speed to cover the 651 km (405 mi) between <a href="/facts/Barcelona/8PWLdRbW">Barcelona</a> and <a href="/facts/Madrid/B63nL2DB">Madrid</a> in 2h30m, the ability to operate in a high range of temperatures, and a different interior.
</p><p>The <a href="/facts/ICE_3/X4d8yPKS">ICE 3</a> trains were a joint production with other Germany-based train manufacturers, who refused to supply parts or sell licenses to Siemens for the AVE Class 103. This caused a delay (for which Siemens eventually paid €21 million), during which Siemens had to re-develop the missing components. However, at the end of this development, Siemens had a complete high-speed train platform, which it named <a href="/facts/Siemens_Velaro/mp623cjs">Velaro</a>. The AVE Class 103 was intended as only the second member of a whole family after <a href="/facts/ICE_3/X4d8yPKS">ICE 3</a>, therefore, it was named by Siemens as the Velaro E.
</p><p>The AVE Class 103 has been certified to run at 350 km/h (217 mph). During testing between Madrid and Zaragoza, on 16 July 2006, train 005 reached 403.7 km/h (250.8 mph).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> This is both the current national rail speed record for Spain, and also the current speed record for a normal series train in standard configuration.
</p><p>On 23 December 2005, RENFE ordered a further 10 identical trains (Siemens designation Velaro E2). Currently, all 26 trains from both orders have been delivered and are in service.
</p>
<h2 id="specifications">Specifications</h2>
<p>The certified top speed of the AVE Class 103 is 350 km/h (217 mph), currently the highest for any train in the world, although the <a href="/facts/Alstom/zBnQu3kz">Alstom</a> <a href="/facts/Automotrice_%25C3%25A0_grande_vitesse/6yaMfRSw">AGV</a>, currently conducting extensive tests, aims for certification at 360 km/h (224 mph).
</p><p>The class has <a href="/facts/Distributed_traction/6MdLFJUs">distributed traction</a>, traction equipment was moved underfloor, with powered <a href="/facts/Bogies/Q5060jts">bogies</a> distributed in alternate carriages along the length of the train. This removes the need for driving units at either end, which AVE Class 100 and 102 have, allowing a better use of space, better energy efficiency, better acceleration at lower speeds, and better ability to climb grades. For the AVE Class 103, four of the eight cars were fitted with two powered bogies each.
</p><p>Electronically, the train is actually two identical half-trains of four coaches each, each with an independent power system, apart from the active pantograph (only a single pantograph is raised on AC-fed rail lines) and a high voltage line along the entire length of the 8-car train.
</p><p>The train's capacity of 404 passengers is split between three classes; with two coupled 8-car trains total capacity is therefore 808 passengers. In the end coaches (driving trailers), glass screens separate the driver and passengers, and allow passengers the same views as the driver, just as in the ICE 3 and other Velaros. The driver can turn these <a href="/facts/Opacity_(optics)/l90q0sAV">opaque</a> if necessary or preferred.
</p>

<h2 id="in-service">In service</h2>
<p>The AVE Class 103 entered commercial service on 22 June 2007,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> between Madrid and the temporary end of the line to Barcelona near Tarragona.
</p><p>While the trains and the tracks were commissioned for a regular top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph), the train control and signalling system necessary for such operation, <a href="/facts/European_Train_Control_System/ABXTw78g">ETCS Level 2</a>, was not ready for service. Thus commercial top speed is limited to the maximum Spanish authorities approve for the line with <a href="/facts/European_Train_Control_System/ABXTw78g">ETCS Level 1</a> since 2011, 310 km/h (193 mph).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p><p>ERTMS is technically capable of supporting speeds of up to 500 km/h (311 mph), but the signal spacing on the Madrid-Barcelona line was initially, from 7 May 2007, only sufficient to support speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph). In October 2011 the speed was raised to 310 km/h (193 mph) on parts of the railway.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
</p><p>From the opening of the <a href="/facts/C%25C3%25B3rdoba%25E2%2580%2593M%25C3%25A1laga_high-speed_rail_line/Ip91XbXP">Córdoba–Málaga high-speed rail line</a> on 24 December 2007, the AVE Class 103 were also used from Madrid to Málaga.
</p><p>On 20 February 2008, the final section of the <a href="/facts/Madrid%25E2%2580%2593Barcelona_high-speed_rail_line/xPFNdpfA">Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line</a> into Barcelona was opened. From that day, the AVE Class 103 were used for the faster services between Madrid and Barcelona, achieving the shortest travel time of 2h30m on the non-stop runs.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_high-speed_trains/zWJJPCMz">List of high-speed trains</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Siemens_Velaro/mp623cjs">Siemens Velaro</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170304083252/http://www.uqp.de/kopka/europa/spanien/br103.htm">Stamps with AVE Class 103</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/AVE_Class_102/Mezj0WAL">AVE Class 102</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Renfe Class 103.

<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050617083938/http://references.transportation.siemens.com/refdb/link_download.jsp?file_name=Velaro_en_A19100-V800-B720-X-7600_1045994332.pdf&l=en">Velaro E specification sheet; download, archived</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100505061701/http://www.renfe.es/ave/ficha_ave_s103.html">Technical information AVE Series 103</a> Renfe page (in Spanish)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.kaemena360.com/360/VelaroTour">Interactive 360° panoramas  of the interior of a  train AVE S103 - Siemens Velaro E</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2gtFZ6mu3Y">Renfe AVE S103 - Siemens Velaro E crossing a viaduct on Youtube</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Ficha de 9-103-005-5" (in Spanish). Listado del Material Ferroviario Español. Retrieved January 16, 2009. <a href="http://www.listadotren.es/motor/ficha.php?id=1178&sid=d4151febb6c7e30d83ea53b7270f40b6" target="_blank">http://www.listadotren.es/motor/ficha.php?id=1178&sid=d4151febb6c7e30d83ea53b7270f40b6</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"First passengers travel on world record train Velaro" (PDF). Siemens. June 22, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2009.[permanent dead link] <a href="https://w1.siemens.com/press/pool/en/pr_cc/2007/06_jun/sc_upload_file_41_velaro_e_e_1452780.pdf" target="_blank">https://w1.siemens.com/press/pool/en/pr_cc/2007/06_jun/sc_upload_file_41_velaro_e_e_1452780.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"15 años de Ave: de ilusión por el progreso a símbolo del desarrollo presente y futuro de España" (PDF) (in Spanish). Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Spain). April 21, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2009. [dead link] <a href="http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/2EB52D4B-EA3F-47AF-8ED7-B507C421C881/26402/0704218.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/2EB52D4B-EA3F-47AF-8ED7-B507C421C881/26402/0704218.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Madrid - Barcelona at 310 km/h with ETCS Level 2 <a href="http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/madrid-barcelona-at-310-kmh-with-etcs-level-2.html" target="_blank">http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/madrid-barcelona-at-310-kmh-with-etcs-level-2.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"Barcelona, nuevo destino AVE" (PDF). Revista del Ministerio de Fomento. Nº 571 (in Spanish). Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Spain. March 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2009. [dead link] <a href="http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/6E42A904-B719-425F-A794-271AF45AE447/34455/Ma04_13.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/6E42A904-B719-425F-A794-271AF45AE447/34455/Ma04_13.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Renfe Class 103 open-in-new

Renfe Class 103