What is Talgo?

Talgo (Tren Articulado Ligero Goicoechea Oriol, GoicoecheaOriol light articulated train) focuses on design, manufacture and servicing.

Its technology uses a unique ‘undercarriage’ called a Rodal that reduces wear and tear on track and which can run at faster speeds on existing railways via a natural ‘tilt’ capability. Talgo says its trains can be up to 25% cheaper as a result of the technology.

The company is 53% owned by private investors including employees and members of the founding family, while 35% is owned by a UK-listed private equity fund.

It closed 2017 with an order book amounting to 2,738 million euros (£2,384m) and formalised contracts of 700 million euros (£609m).

It began building trains in 1942, and has an industrial presence in 28 countries including Spain, Germany, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Its portfolio includes regional, inter-city, high-speed and Very High Speed Trains.

It builds and exports not only train fleets, but also machine tools and maintenance equipment - for Talgo’s own fleets and for other manufacturers.

Talgo currently employs some 2,000 people worldwide. As well as the two Spanish facilities, the company also manages a factory at Astana (Kazakhstan), which assembles tilting vehicle components.

It currently holds around 60% of the high-speed market in Spain.