Talgo for Leo Express on its way to the Czech Republic

A Talgo train is currently heading to the Czech Republic, where it will undergo tests at the VUZ Velim test centre. It is one of three 13-car Talgo VI units that Renfe will provide to its subsidiary Leo Express. These should be three 13-car Talgo VI trainsets with a maximum speed of 200 km/h, assembled from cars withdrawn from service on the Intercity trains on the Madrid - Algeciras route with December 2024 timetable change.

The lease to LE will be implemented through RAMF (Renfe Alquiler de Material Ferroviario, Renfe Railway Equipment Rental), a subsidiary of Renfe, as is the case with the Coradia Lint DMUs on the Bratislava - Komárno route, where RAMF acts as an intermediary between Alpha Trains and the operator.

The transport from Spain took place via Perpignan, i. e. via the standard-gauge Spanish-French HSL Figueres - Perpignan, which it passed through on the morning of 8 August. Together with the Talgo for LE, the new Talgo 230 unit, No. 009, for DB, was also transported to Germany.

The most recent news is that on 8 August 2025, the ERA issued approval for operation in Germany for six types of cars from which ICE L rakes are assembled. The area of use is Germany, with the exception of the Köln - Frankfurt HSL. But the Talgo 230s are allowed to run only in the pull mode. 

The six types of passenger coaches can be flexibilly combined to different train formations. A flexible formation consists exclusively of intermediate and end vehicles of the passenger coaches (T-230 ICE-L). The number (n) of vehicles in a predefined formation is 9 ≤ n ≤ 21. Further information regarding possible compositions can be found in the operational documentation, which is available to the operator.

The operation of the vehicles is only permitted with a train line voltage of 1 kV 16.7 Hz (compatibility has so far only been proven for this case). It is not permitted to pass over marshalling humps and track brakes in working conditions. Operation on steep slopes is not permitted. The Class 105 locomotives are still in the approval process.

Together with the Talgo for LE, the first Vectrons of the ČD Class 384 with a maximum speed of 230 km/h are to arrive to Praha for testing.