The Renfe Class 120 are electric multiple units used on Alvia high-speed rail services in Spain.Alvia services - preference class www.renfe.esAlvia services - Tourist class www.renfe.es
The trainsets are dual-voltage, dual-gauge units capable of changing gauge without stopping at . Twelve units were ordered in 2001, and a further 45 units in 2004Renfe define su encargo de trenes de ancho variable, series 120 y 130 www.vialibre-ffe.com
29 units of the class Renfe Class 121 were ordered for medium-distance high-speed Avant services. The units are very similar to the Class 120 but include additional electrical equipment for redundancy (a requirement for trains using the Guadarrama Tunnel), and do not provide first class seating, raising the number of seats to 282.
Design Class 120 The trainsets are 4-unit multiple units capable of operating in pairs, designed for medium-distance high-speed services. The inner axle of each carriage bogie is powered by a body mounted three phase asynchronous traction motor via a cardan shaft final drive. The motors are driven by IGBT converters with one converter per carriage. The bogies are of welded steel construction with primary coil springs and secondary air suspension. Tractive forces are transmitted by a drag pivot pin.
The bogies incorporate CAF's BRAVA (Bogie de Rodadura de Ancho Variable AutopropulsadoCAF's 250km/h variable gauge train Via Libre, Julio Agosto, 2006, via caf.net) system which allows gauge-changing without stopping and operating speeds of up to The Self-Propelled Variable Gauge Rolling Truck www.caf.net The maximum axleload is .
The vehicles are air conditioned with one toilet per car. Passenger services include individual audio systems, and audio and visual information systems. One seat is reserved for disabled passengers, and wheelchair ramps are fitted. The driver's cab is also air conditioned, and the train is equipped with GSM-R systems.HIGH-SPEED TRAIN ATPRD s-120, Equipment www.caf.net
There are 156 seats in 'standard' accommodation and 82 seats in 'first class'.
Class 121 The 121 class are built to the same design as the original 120 Class but have additional electrical equipment (duplicated for redundancy). Additionally all the seating is in [2+2] formationRenfe Serie 121 www.renfe.es increasing the capacity to 282.El primer tren de la serie 121 y la locomotora eléctrica 253 de mercancías ya están en vía www.vialibre-ffe.com
Operations
Class 120 The first trainset was produced in 2004 and began testing.En pruebas la serie 120, trenes de ancho variable y bitensión para 250 km/h wwwvialibre-ffe.com Services on the Madrid to Barcelona line began in 2006.Cuatro trenes de la serie 120 se incorporan al servicio Madrid-Valencia www.vialibre-ffe.com
The trainsets have operated on the Madrid-Pamplona-Hendaye, Madrid-Logroño, Barcelona-Vigo and Barcelona-Bilbao/Irun lines.(section) RENFE-LD high-speed trainsets - Class 120 www.railfaneurope.net
Class 121 The first trains entered service on the Madrid-Segovia-Valladolid line on 26 January 2009.Entra en servicio la serie 121 de Renfe 27/1/2009 www.altavelocidad They are currently used for the Avant services Barcelona-Lleida, A Coruña-Ourense and Zaragoza-CalatayudAvant Serie 121 www.renfe.com and for the Intercity service Madrid-Gijón.
Related vehicles The 6-car TCDD HT65000 electric multiple units ordered from CAF by the Turkish State Railways for the Istanbul-Ankara high-speed line are based upon the Class 120 design.
Accidents and incidents
18 January 2026: At 19:39 CET, train set number 61 of the Renfe Class 120 was involved in a major double derailment near Adamuz, Córdoba. The accident was initiated when a Frecciarossa 1000 operated by Iryo, traveling on the adjacent track, derailed and obstructed the path of the oncoming Class 120. The resulting collision led to the derailment of the Class 120 unit. The disaster resulted in at least 39 fatalities and 245 injuries, with 15 passengers reported in critical condition.
See also High-speed rail in Spain List of high-speed trains
References
Further reading RENFE Class 120 and 121 in detail (spanish language) publisher: Via Libre, 11/2009, via www.caf.net
External links
Images of Renfe Class 120 trains fototrenes.tranvia.org