The 3000-T, later class 353, was a diesel-hydraulic locomotive built by Krauss-Maffei to haul the lightweight Talgo coaches. Like its predecessor 2000-T or class 352, it was built with a low profile and two fast-running Maybach engines and hydraulic Mekydro transmissions. Now each engine had 1,500 hp and the top speed was 180 km/h. To increase flexibility, the new class of locomotives was longer and had two cabs. Two 175 kW or 240 hp diesel generators were included to provide power to the train. In addition to the five locomotives, four standard gauge replacement bogies were built in case they had to run to France, or later on AVE lines. In 1978, one reached a speed of 230 km/h.

15 years after the introduction of the 353, the new tilting Talgo Pendular coaches required an even more powerful locomotive since these allowed up to 25 percent higher speeds in curves. The eight locomotives of the new class 354 now had two 2,085 hp MTU V16 engines and Voith transmissions. Initially, their top speed was 180 km/h, too. Then the new ASFA 200 safety system was introduced in 1986, speed could be increased to 200 km/h. The last locomotive of class 353 was retired in 2003, followed by the last of class 354 in 2009.