Ten-Year Maintenance Contract Strengthens Talgo’s Presence in Uzbekistan
Talgo has secured a ten-year maintenance agreement with Uzbekistan’s state railway operator covering the country’s fleet of high-speed Talgo 250 trains, strengthening a partnership that has been in place for more than a decade.
The contract, valued at close to €80 million, relates to the upkeep of six Talgo 250 units currently in service with Uzbekistan Temir Yollari (UTY). It represents the largest maintenance deal Talgo has signed in the country and follows a series of earlier agreements that have underpinned the long-term use of Spanish high-speed rail technology in Central Asia.
The Talgo 250 fleet operates at a maximum commercial speed of 230 km/h in Uzbekistan, although the trains are capable of running at speeds of up to 275 km/h. Under the new agreement, Talgo will be responsible for ensuring the reliability and availability of the trains over the next decade.
Talgo’s involvement in Uzbekistan dates back to 2009, when UTY ordered two nine-car Talgo 250 trains. These entered passenger service in 2011. A further contract later that year added two eleven-car units, which became operational in 2017.
The fleet was expanded again in 2019, when UTY purchased two more eleven-car Talgo 250 trains that entered service in 2021. At the same time, four additional cars were supplied to extend the original two nine-car sets to eleven cars each, bringing the total fleet to six trains.
The Talgo 250 model is also used in Spain, where it operates as the Series 130 and 730 under Renfe’s Alvia brand. The trains feature natural pendulation technology, enabling higher speeds through curves via passive carbody tilting. In Uzbekistan, the trains run exclusively on the 1,520 mm Russian broad gauge, removing the need for variable gauge systems required in Spain.
Talgo said the new contract reinforces its position as a long-term partner of UTY and underlines the strategic importance of the Uzbek market, where the high-speed fleet has played a significant role in improving rail connectivity across the country.
Image: Talgo