jackytoo

If they do that with the E. Europeans and the Arabs some of the Directors may be found with a bullet in the head

angiescarr

I agree that the Ave needs feeder services. But the idea that "no one wants it" just isn't borne out by my experience. I took a Seville to Barcelona trip a couple of weeks ago and every seat was taken for at least part of the journey. (It stopped at Cordoba and Zaragoza). There were about 10 carriages and I think the service runs twice a day. Yes it cost about 200 quid return each. But what with messing about at airports, extra charges for the weight I needed to take and not having to take long distance taxis/shuttles etc. It was around the same time and similar cost because the flights were expensive at that date. I have to say it was a very pleasant experience. If they could just get the price down a bit I'd use it for preference every time!

EsuriJohn

You can get the price down if you are of pensionable age by paying €5 for the gold railcard at any station (we got one in Huelva last week).

You can then use this card to book online and seats are released 62 days before the travel date. If you can plan in advance and you are apappropriatelyld you can take the AVE at very reasonable cost. Up to 60% in some cases.

angiescarr

Thanks guys but unfortunately...(or indeed fortunately) I'm not old enough yet. Anyone know of any other discounts that work and how to apply for them? I've seen certain cards but am frankly confused. and I speak some Spanish!

jimenato

EsuriJohn

Appropriately old.

steviedeluxe

This is a strange story (article in Spanish). The Aragon govt is purchasing the station at Canfranc with a view to restoring it. It's been out of service for many years, and the last international service stopped in 1970. Wonder what they can do with it?

http://treneando.com/2012/04/01/el-g...-recuperacion/

Domino

my immediate thought is...........
clean it up and bring back into operation

however, I am sure there is someone somewhere who will have the bright idea of turning it into an armadillo and pretending it is retro

.

Relampago

It is not something new. This technology is from Talgo, and has many decades

Relampago

I think the high speed is interesting. They are long-term benefits, but I think things are not doing very well, because are removing some trains that are not high speed but are very fast (180-200 km / h or more) and cheaper, and are leaving many small populations without train. We did not have enough with the current high-speed train models, now the companies Talgo and CAF have made two models more, Talgo Avril

and CAF Oaris

agoreira

Read recently a report, "A Train Going Nowhere" about Portugal´s decision to pull out of the planned AVE Madrid-Lisbon line. It will now end in Badajoz. Portugal, like Spain, is broke and have decided it would be too expensive and not profitable, so have abandoned the idea. Spain, despite having only completed 15% of the line, will plough on regardless, guess they reckon Badajoz will be a real money spinner for them.

steviedeluxe

I think it's a shame that the Lisbon to Madrid high speed line won't be built. Where you do get major cities linked together eg Madrid-Barcelona or Madrid-Valencia the services are well-used with millions of passengers. I suppose Portugal didn't fancy hordes of Madrilenos descending on Lisbon at weekends and holidays! If they do build the first stage to Badajoz (and there's a difference between keeping plans open and actually constructing the line and stations) at least the overall journey will be a lot quicker, and the fast train can utilise the gauge changing technology once it approaches Portugal.

Domino

A pity the UK doesnt follow Portugal's lead and cancel HS2 - too much money for no gain
it will be obsolete before its finished just like warships and jet fighters

steviedeluxe

I think there are associated developments planned that make HS2 more economically attractive (but not to the conservation crowd). I believe they want to build a "new city" in between Birmigham and Coventry, and the new fast line makes this more attractive (or so they say, not sure to whom ). Also a lot of industry leaders are panicking that London's airports can't cope, so some are saying Brimingham's airport can act as overspill for Heathrow, with the high speed rail link. It's hard to work out though what is actually going to happen - there's been a lot of talk of Boris Island (a new airport in the Thames estuary) but I can't see that happening as it will take 30-50 years to come to fruition.

Domino

Boris Island is a fanciful dream
Southend is already there and has supporting infrastructure

As to a "new city" well that is also a fanciful dream - too many vested interests will stop that.

can see no need for the HS2 to gain 5-9 mins on a journey, leaving out all the other stations on the way who will be left with their little stoppers but no money for improvement of their infrastructure

Bham needs to be added to the London list - it already has as good as Stansted for infrastructure