Originally Posted by steviedeluxe (Post 10780081)

Further evidence the new Madrid Alicante line has been a great success. Passenger numbers up 47% in first week of operation, compared with the same period last year. If anyone is travelling on this route this summer, make sure to book ahead to be sure of a seat.

http://www.abc.es/economia/20130629/...306282042.html

Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly (Post 10780577)

:confused:

A great success after one weeks operation ?

Are you having some sort of a joke ?

Unfortunately we've seen the same early days novelty value elsewhere, before reality eventually set in.

How can you compare it with a year
ago when it wasn't even in Service then ? :confused:

You surely wouldn't be trying to mislead us by including all train passenger numbers ?

In any event it's already been widely reported that visitor numbers are well up in all of that region due to numerous other factors.

What absolute gobbledegook ! :lol:

Originally Posted by jimenato (Post 10780983)

I expect the number of people driving between Gloucester and South Wales went up a bit when they opened the Severn Bridge.;)

Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly (Post 10781268)

To attempt to convince anyone that the new line is a roaring success on the basis of the first week or even the first few months whilst the novelty value still has a major effect is too ridiculous for words.
The only thing it illustrates is that Stevies business experience and knowledge is virtually zilch, as has already clearly been demonstrated by his numerous other nonsensical business suggestions which have been quickly put to bed by somewhat wiser posters.

It has already clearly been indicated elsewhere that the numbers have a tendency to fall away dramatically, as given the choice most punters eventually resort to the most cost effective means of travel.
The tragedy is that existing lines and stations are being sacrificed in an attempt to justify the new system leaving many punters with little alternative at all.

At present in the region of 95% of the system is leaking money down the plug hole on a daily basis in addition to the many billions which will obviously have to be written off.

Rather than being greeted with dancing in the streets the opening of this line was met with noisy protests from many who could have put the wasted funds to much more desperately needed use, while the atmosphere on the first journey itself more resembled that of a funeral procession with the politicians on board long ago giving up their futile attempt to put a brave face on the monstrosity they had created as it sped past empty stations foolishly built in the middle of nowhere.

Don,t take my word for it Stevie, just ask yourself instead why the PWD was not even able to come up with the name of a single economic or travel EXPERT yes expert Stevie (not trainspotter),who could find any justification at all for the consruction of the ongoing financial disaster which Ave has turned out to be.

Originally Posted by steviedeluxe (Post 10780914)

Originally Posted by steviedeluxe (Post 10781470)

Still hurt by the fact the trains are full then? :rofl: Still, in your bitter imagination you can still dream of empty trains....

Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly (Post 10781521)

No, much more hurt by the billions poured down the drain on already closed lines and expensive trains picking up single passengers at multi million euro stations built without a single thought in the midldle of nowhere, whilst so many Spanish ppl can't even afford a square meal or are losing their homes on a daily basis.

Anyway, who cares a toss about them whilst there is still even more borrowed money to be burnt for the benefit of the more fortunate ones ?

Originally Posted by Dick Dasterdly (Post 10764566)

For anyone who still has the faintest doubt that the whole project is anything other than a monstrous White Elephant, have a study of this extremely sobering reading.


http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/01/15/...98_135607.html


Just some of the key points...

The network is not viable economically or even necessary.

3.7 Billion euros spent on the stretch up to the French border, yet because of all the bridges and tunnels the train cannot even get remotely close to it's optimum operating speed.

The Paris/Madrid link is unsustainable and even in a best case scenario can only save another half an hour on the journey time.

Independent studies suggest that the whole system is nothing more than a money pit.

The public works committee is unable to name a single economist or transport expert who supports the scheme.

Compared to hi-speed routes in other countries such as France, Germany and Japan, the Spanish system is only likely to be used by a fraction of their numbers and can never even come anywhere close to being economically viable.
(numbers are demonstrated).

There is no evidence that any of the towns on the present routes have benefited from their hi-speed link up to the present date.

They even built a multi million euro station at a 1000 population village where it is quite rare for anyone to even use it.

It's had a negative impact on other more convenient conventional routes causing some stations to close and prospective passengers left with little alternative.

Typically Billions have been spent on new lines and infrastructure to achieve a mere saving of fifteen minutes journey time.

Many planned stations are now unlikely to be built and Portugal has pulled out of it's hi-speed link with Badajoz, as they desperately need the money for more important things.

Portugal is however considering a future more conventional rail link for goods, as the hi-speed line is unsuitable for commercial cargo.

I think the most telling remark of all was by an economist, who said that Spain has once again followed its usual White Elephant trend of building first and thinking later. :o

Class dismissed.