American Made Talgo Passenger Train Completes Shake, Rattle and Roll Testing; Washington State Department of Transportation and Amtrak Oversee Rigorous Certification Procedure.

PUEBLO, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1998--The first of four newly manufactured Talgo passenger trainsets completed a series of rigorous shake, rattle and roll tests today on its way to final certification and acceptance by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Amtrak.

Talgo COO, Jean-Pierre Ruiz said that the tests, conducted by the Transportation Technology Center Inc. in Pueblo, confirmed that the Talgo trainset is fully operational at speeds of 125 mph. "These tests are required by WSDOT and Amtrak prior to their acceptance of the Talgo," he said. "The tests measured the trains acceleration, braking and ride quality parameters. All indications are that we passed with flying colors."

WSDOT rail office manager Ken Uznanski said Washington State and Amtrak inspectors will issue their final test report early next week after they have reviewed the data collected by hundreds of test instruments installed on the train. Ed Lombardi, Amtrak's Director of Performance and Tests, said initial looks at the data measurement points appear to show nothing abnormal. "Riding on the Talgo at 125 miles per hour feels the same as sitting in your own living room," he said. Final acceptance of the American manufactured Talgo trainsets is expected before their inaugural runs Monday, November 30, 1998.

Kurt Laird, Amtrak's Pacific Northwest Corridor general manager, said that three complete Amtrak Cascades trainsets will operate between Vancouver, B.C. and Eugene, Oregon daily beginning Tuesday, December 1. Two of the three sets were purchased by the Washington State Department of Transportation and will be operated by Amtrak. The third set was purchased directly by Amtrak. It is also anticipated that a fourth trainset will be purchased by Amtrak in the near future for service in the Pacific Northwest corridor. Leased Talgo passenger trains have been operated by Amtrak in the corridor since April 1, 1994.

Talgo passenger trains, developed in Spain, feature a unique tilting suspension system and other construction features that allow the train to achieve higher than normal speeds and a smoother ride in curves. In addition, the Seattle produced Talgo trainsets have been manufactured to meet all Federal rules and regulations. Mobility impaired passengers will be capable of boarding and deboarding cars with ease. They will also be able to travel between all accessible cars including the bistro and dining cars without having to deboard and reboard.

Talgo Inc., a Washington State corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Patentes Talgo of Madrid, Spain. Talgo, world-leaders in rail technology, has more than 100 trainsets in operation throughout the world. New generation Talgo XXI trains, currently undergoing final testing in Spain, feature a completely integrated locomotive and passenger car system capable of speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.