An American report on the high speed rail network in Spain

And here's a map showing what lines are due to open up next



http://www.geotren.es/blog/red-de-al...muy-avanzadas/

good information Stevie,

The Granada stretch is full of bridges under and over and they don't seem to have got very far. In Atarfe they have got to demolish factories and build new roads before they actually lay any track. The rule seems to be they must replace any roads/access before it is demolished so no one will be inconvenienced.

It looks likely the old Sugar Factory will be the site for the station - or else spend several €billions flattening relatively new homes as there isnt any spare land to drive through to the current station.
There is also the Metro problem, that crosses under the existing railway at Maracena and no allowance has currently been made for it to negotiate any ATV track.

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I do not get the point of spending all that money on AVE when local services should be extended to provide better coverage and reduce the reliance on buses.

Cercanias in cities like Madrid and Barcelona are already extensive.
Spending money on the old inter-city lines (needed because they were getting old) would not have given contracts abroad like:
http://www.railwaybulletin.com/2012/...ional-contract
Thanks to the investment in Spanish rail technology, their firms are now selling all over the world and gaining contracts in various countries eg:

http://www.thecorner.eu/2012/04/spai...pply-contract/
http://www.spanishrailwaysnews.com/n...ot=199&cs=home
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/loca...land-train-job
http://www.track2infra.com/indian-ra...nfe-operadora/

do you agree with the UK's HS2 ?

The map shows why when we are travelling north to Santander from Merida to north of Caceres we are following a new track bed being laid and bridges built. I understood it to be part of the Lisbon/Madrid link but could not see how running due N- S. It looks quite clever picking up serious Regional capitals on the way but Portugal have suspended their half.

There is also a huge viaduct up at Canaveral but I am not sure which link this fits into.

give the Spanish any excuse to cut a hole thru a mountain or build a viaduct between two rocky outcrops and they will do it.
usually the reason is secondary, its all done for the fun



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I do actually but the uk rail infrastructure is much larger than Spains. If the Uks network was as limited as Spains I wouldn't.

so you believe it is a good idea to spend £16.3Billion (at 2011 prices)
http://www.hs2.org.uk/key-facts#cos
which will become at least £30Billion by 2023/6 to run a railway parallel to an existing slow speed railway missing out all the stations on the way, just to get to Birmingham, only 112miles distance.
So, why not extend local services and provide better coverage, reducing the reliance on buses

Can UK afford this ? Surely NO !

Spain has far more problems than the UK with mountains well over mile high to be negotiated, so even the proverbial donkey will get tired. But its ok for the UK to re-invent the wheel but not Spain.

all seems a bit one sided to me, living here in Spain, just outside a major city, needing to get to Malaga Airport, where the most cost effective and time convenient is a bus because there is no train alternative.
You don't want me to have a fast train, but the UK can duplicate a clapped out service needing revitalisation without support by building a Rolls Royce train service



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Dom, it seems to me it is you that is taking a one sided view. Local train services in the Uk have a far greater coverage than in Spain. I am all for Spain having a fast train service but not at the expense of not expanding its regional networks.
The money would in my opinion be better spent on the regional networks, then perhaps you would not have to get the bus.
I wasn't trying to take a one side view but was voicing an opinion.

Certainly must be a total lie then.

but I am wrong if I don't agree with your opinion

More importantly, what the hell has it got to do with you what the Spanish do to meet their transport needs ?
Just because we are Brits living here do we suddenly forget we are the outsiders, because we are stupid enough to spend £30billion on a 112mile track without upgrading the local services we think this sovereign nation is also as stupid. Especially when most of the UK is only just above sea level whilst 99% of Spain is half a mile high.

Perhaps countries like Saudi Arabia are stupid spending money on long distance travel when they don't have a viable local service. But you won't tell them that will you!

I shall be delighted when they finally open the Barcelona - Figueres, stretch. I've promised to meet a friend for lunch in Paris.

They can afford it.