The series of locomotives were ordered to modernise RENFE's fleet and to provide traction on the new standard gauge Madrid to Seville line, on Iberian gauge lines they were to replace RENFE Classes 276, 277 and 278 which were of some age, and incapable of speeds of 200 km/h;[1] the order coincided with the construction of the first standard gauge high speed line in Spain, and was won in 1989 by a consortium of Swiss and German companies led by Siemens including Krauss-Maffei, Thyssen-Henschel and ABB.

Subsequent to their introduction some of the locomotives have been re-bogied to both standard and Iberian gauge to meet operational requirements.

In 1995, 252 054 was seriously damaged in an accident in El Paso Despeñaperros,[5] being scrapped later in Villaverde Bajo.

[6] In 2010 four locomotives were modified for freight work on standard gauge lines from Barcelona to Le Soler (nr.

The vehicles were fitted with ERTMS compatible train safety devices, standard gauge bogies; they will also operated from 1.5 kV DC on some sections of the route.