"Spain’s obsession with high-speed trains runs into budget reality"

....or How Not to Run a Railroad !

says it all really,

"A one-track dirt road used by local farmers is the main access to a magnificent glass-and-steel train station in the small city of Villena, on Spain’s latest high-speed rail route.

It is a spanking new 4,500sq m building – essentially in the middle of nowhere.

The central government financed the rail route, inaugurated yesterday, between Madrid and Alicante on the Costa Blanca. The Valencia regional government was supposed to fund works to connect it to the nearby motorway and Villena, home to 35,000.

But it ran out of money, leaving the station high and dry.

The disconnect says a lot about both Spain and its current finances, about a love affair with grand projects to showcase its modernity and a diminishing ability to pay for them.

The Valencia government has pledged to complete the works but it is now unclear when and where it will be able to find the funds as it is already cutting spending on schools and hospitals as it tries to reduce a deficit.


Ximo Puig, the head of the Socialist opposition in Valencia, says the station is likely to become yet another white elephant in a country where dozens of airports, train stations, motorways or cultural centres built during a decade-long property boom are under-used or have been abandoned.

On many routes, Spanish cities lack the critical size to make the system sustainable, partly explaining why the state-owned Renfe train operator and Adif station and rail company are losing money.

Renfe has a 5bn-euro debt while Adif, rated as junk by Moody’s investors service, has debt of more than 11bn euros.

But on board the opening train and at the unfinished stations along the route, there was little enthusiasm.

In Alicante, about 200 people staged a demonstration against the new infrastructure and no more than 50 people welcome the new train at the Villena station."

"Another WHITE ELEPHANT"

"RENFE with 5 BILLION DEBT"

"ADIF rated as JUNK with 11 BILLION PLUS DEBT"

Valencian Govt cutting spending on Hospitals and Schools to try and fund the train station connection in the middle of Nowhere.

Nuff said methinks.

You see? Dick's already admitted in this thread he doesn't even use trains, but point out that a new line is already fully occupied and he's making a huge post full of red ink! Very poor trolling.

Welcome to the real World, Stevie.

I bet you thought it very inconsiderate, not to mention downright bad mannered for the Spanish people to be out protesting, when they could have been dancing in the streets and waving flags all along the route for your big event.

Personally, I really can't understand why, especially when the country is supposed to be booming again.

Any theories ?


By the way, from whence cometh your information that I never use Spanish trains ?

Having recently travelled Cattle Class on the AVE between Malaga and Madrid all I can say is I was impressed.

The seats were comfortable with excellent leg room for my tallish body.
The carriage was showing signs of wear but you usually get that because it is being used.
Walking from the very back seat to the buffet car I saw no empty seats and my only gripe would be that it would have been nice to have a lid for my coffee when returning through 6? carriages.
Timing spot on.
Then there is the price:- it can be done for about €30

The AVE and other vanity projects are all well and good when you are awash with money but in times of austerity the huge amounts of money expended and to an extent wasted could and should have been spent improving and expanding existing services. This would include local rail networks, roads etc.
That would bring more benefit to both the population and Spanish economy as a whole.
For example the money spent on the Malaga tram could have been used to improve the existing local services that would have benefited the city far more.

after many false starts, vested interest proposals that didn't fly, the mayor of Granada appears to have put his weight behind the revamp of the existing Granada station complex to take the AVE.
Considering the cost of some of the options, especially the Europa Roundabout idea, this should ensure the station is ready within a year or two of the line being finished.

I think the article I posted a link to illustrates that there could be problem here in Spain. It seems as if there is no joined up thinking.
When planning something major then include all the infrastructure. Plan the infrastructure for the needs. Allow for expansion if and when the need arises.
It is like the AVE to Galicia. It was built from A Coruña towards Madrid. So now we have this situation.
Empty trains Honestly what does one expect with a train to know where?

However at least the Norman Foster "overspend" train station is put on the shelf.
But that means that the AVE station may be outside of the city, who knows. Again a lack of foresight (?)

Opinion in El País.

From your own words (although you could argue I suppose you were just trying to win an internet argument, and that your words only referred to the fast service:

I know we won't ever agree on this, but local cercanias around cities like Madrid, Valencia and Zaragoza are already good.
Upgrading rail lines is surprisingly expensive - the West Coast Line modernisation in the UK cost £10 billion, and that was some years back.
Besides which Spain is now able to use their rep in this field to gain various contracts abroad. Part of which is allowing Talgo to expand their factories in Spain - jobs are welcome news surely?
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/s...ryg1hU.twitter

Thanks for the feedback.
Interesting that your train was full. I have to admit that on the journey I took from Valencia last Autumn, occupation was more like 60% in my carriage (possibly less in other carriages judging by the people who got off in Madrid) but that was before they introduced the new pricing regime.

Well there you go.
As you see, you're making it all up again.

My words are accurate and precise and give NO indication at all that I NEVER use Spanish trains.

Quite a difference between LEAST FAVOURED and NEVER at all, wouldn't you agree ?

Exactly!Virtually all the Western and eastern coasts aren't covered by any rail link at all. Most Spanish say the same too. Vanity projects Lets see how they go when semana santa week and summer season falls out of the stats...and how long can the low prices be maintained

Dicks post had some good points too, always know he has a good post when Stevie accuses him of being a troll

You've been hoist by your own petard. Still surprised to see your strong opinions on a mode of transport (AVE) you don't use. But you're just doing your best to provoke aren't you

My opinions are influenced to a degree by many struggling Spanish people who see the whole thing as a Monstrous White Elephant and no doubt wonder just how many half decent square meals, as well as hospital and school improvements, could have been bought for themselves and their families by the Billions of euros that have been chucked down the plughole on this ill fated and badly planned project, as well as others.