Talgo is a Spanish manufacturer of railway vehicles. It is best known for a design of articulated railway coach in which the wheels are mounted in pairs, but not joined by an axle, being between rather than underneath the individual coaches. Another feature of the design is the suspension, which allows the vehicle to passively tilt into curves, aiding passenger comfort.
TALGO stands for "Tren Articulado Ligero Goicoechea Oriol" (Goicoechea-Oriol light articulated train), Goicoechea and Oriol being the founders of the company. Its name gives the key to its success: this system is much lighter than any other, thus cheaper to operate. Since the introduction of the "Talgo Pendular", the train tilts naturally inwards on corners, making it more comfortable for the passengers.
Talgo trains fitted with variable gauge axles can change rail gauge - for instance at the Spanish/French border.
Talgo Patents S.A. was originally incorporated in 1942.
Talgo has also recently entered the high-speed train manufacturing market. "Talgo 350" trains operating at a top speed of 320 km/h will be operating on the Madrid-Barcelona line.
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