OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2010. Russian Railways, the Spanish Administrator of Railway Infrastructures (ADIF), and Talgo have signed a joint declaration on continuing cooperation in studying the possibility and viability of using Talgo gauge-changing systems on boundaries between the railway systems with 1435 mm and 1520 mm track gauges. The document was signed at the V International Rail Business Forum "1520 Strategic Partnership" in Sochi, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

The companies agreed to conduct a preliminary analysis by the end of 2010 on the economic effectiveness of the project. Following the results of an economic evaluation, an in-depth analysis is planned to be conducted in 2011 on technical and operational conditions for the installation of Talgo gauge-change systems, the need for investment, with the preparation of detailed proposals on timeframes, and on means of implementing the project. In line with the declaration, the work will be conducted by a joint task force.

The sides can involve other interested companies and organizations in the activities of the task force. The companies also agreed to approach railway organizations and companies of interested states located on the boundary between the 1520 mm and 1435 mm railway systems, with an invitation to take part in work to study the possibility of using Talgo gauge-change systems.
 
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Russian Railways and Talgo signed a memorandum of intent in 2008 on the joint use of rolling stock equipped with automatic gauge change systems on international passenger train services. To implement this memorandum, in November 2009 the companies signed a foreign trade contract for the free, temporary delivery of a laboratory train consisting of four passenger carriages with variable-gauge axles.

In February 2010, the laboratory train was delivered to the VNIIZhT test loop at the Shcherbinka station to conduct preliminary tests, aimed at assessing the appropriateness of the automatic gauge-change wheelsets for use amid the conditions of Russia’s climate and rail system. Under the research and technology development plan for 2010, Russian Railways began developing a feasibility study for organizing high-speed passenger services on the Centre – West route with the use of trainsets with variable-gauge axles.

In the future, regular high-speed passenger services between Russia and foreign countries with the use of Talgo-type rolling stock with variable-gauge wheelsets will be possible on the Moscow – Berlin, Moscow – Warsaw, and Moscow – Prague routes. According to preliminary research, the overall reduction in journey time on these routes brought by raising the service speed to 120 km/h, conducting border control and customs operations while the trains are in motion, and using variable-gauge wheelsets, could be between 6 and 10 hours in each direction.