TALGO Gauge Change Facility in Action

S-130 of Renfe passes thru the gauge change facility in Rado. This clip demonstrates how a high speed train changes from the old broad gauge tracks (1668 mm) to the new standard gauge high speed tracks (1435 mm). With the gauge change there is also a change of the catenary system from 3000 V DC to 25'000 V AC. The train was built by Talgo in co-operation with Bombardier.

Talgo gauge change system:
Each wheel is sitting on a stub axle with two bearings, which can be moved sideways. The bearings are hold in position with spring locking pins. The gauge change facility consist of various guide rails, which have the function to pull the locking pins, move the wheel bearings and release the locking pins so that they can settle with spring force in their position. Technically the gauge change could be performed up to speeds of 60 km/h, but the mechanical wear would be much higher. The system is rather robust, only winter time with snow and ice can be a problem. This system is only suitable for relatively light vehicles like passenger trains. The maximal load per wheel can not be higher than 8.75 metric tons (17 tons per axle).

other gauge change systems:

There are gauge change systems for loaded freight trains used between Europe standard gauge and broad gauge used in the area of the former Soviet Union. This systems are called SUW 2000 and Rafil.

SUW 2000: http://www.schaeffler.com/remotemedien/media/_shared_media/08_media_library/01_publications/schaeffler_2/publication/downloads_18/wl_07541_de_en.pdf

Rafil V:
http://images.slideplayer.hu/7/1959848/slides/slide_19.jpg
There is a gauge change system to change between 1'000 mm and 1'435 mm. It was developed by Prose in Switzerland and will be used on the Golden Express Route. The track is called EV09. See here: http://www.schienenfahrzeugtagung.at/download/PDF2011/16-Deiss_Gyr.pdf

Japan uses gauge change systems between 1'064 mm and 1'435 mm. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_Change_Train

Видео TALGO Gauge Change Facility in Action канала Peter Christener