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Talgo is a Spanish manufacturer of railway vehicles. Best known for a design of articulated railway coach in which the wheels are mounted in pairs, but not joined by an axle, between rather than underneath the individual coaches. Another feature of the design is the suspension allowing the vehicle to passively tilt into curves, aiding passenger comfort.
TALGO stands for "Tren Articulado Ligero Goicoechea Oriol" (Goicoechea-Oriol light articulated train) being Goicoechea and Oriol the founders of the company. Its name gives the key to its success, this system is much lighter than any other, being thus cheaper to opperate. Only since the introduction of the "Talgo Pendular", this train tilts naturally inwards in corners, bringing a lot of comfort for the passengers.
Talgo trains may also change rail gauge by means of a special installation (variable gauge axles), 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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