Fredbargate

I personally think that a high speed route inland would cost similar to a coastal route either CDs or Luz when the nature of the terrain is taken into consideration.

steviedeluxe

Looks like the Galicia fast train section (newly opened in December) is being poorly taken up. The number of passengers is actually far more than used the train previously but that's because few used the train before to travel from Ourense to Santiago. I'm not so sure this would improve if it gets connected to the main line to Madrid, outside of holiday periods, but we will see.

http://ave-renfe.edreams.es/ave-gali...ense-santiago/

steviedeluxe

An American report (well worth reading) on what California can learn from Spain's high-speed rail

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/14/...alifornia.html

steviedeluxe

Some further good news from the Saudi project: Talgo to supply 32 trains to go on the high speed line. This work to be done in Alava (the Basque Country) and Madrid at a charge of 1,600 million Euros, and will provide 350 new jobs.
(Article in Spanish).

http://ave-renfe.edreams.es/general/...-del-desierto/

Fingers crossed now they can get the Russian contract

megmet

While on the C2 line they are every hour at peak times, but outside of that only every two hours.

Is it any wonder that most of us here go into Malaga via car?

jackytoo

and the Cercania on the coast only reaches Fuengirola, no track until Algerciras.

Domino

presumably that is all to do with the corruption, graft and backhanders that keeps Spain afloat that I keep reading about on BE Forums
funny how everyone forgets the Saudi Air Force contract, Cementation and Mrs Thatcher's son but then that is in UK so its alright

Good luck to the project team, every respect for what they have done here in Spain and the problems they have had to overcome with the terrain. How it is operated, as with all trains is down to the actual operator.

jimenato

Looks like a coastal route from Malaga to Algeciras is now favoured

From Typically Spanish

Domino

so one line or two ?
will the freight give way to passenger or vice versa ?

they have put down most of the rail bed for the AVE to Granada, building some marvellous bridges to the smallest of places (yesterday went over a huge bridge to a hamlet of 20 houses, only 10 are occupied) but still no rail in place.

Understand there is still discussion regarding how it will terminate at Granada and where the station will be
is this going to be finished or will we be left with another white elephant to stand alongside Metro which is now about 2 years behind schedule and nearly all work stopped - with part finished roadworks all over the place causing more traffic congestion than is necessary.

steviedeluxe

A fascinating video on the building of the high speed line between Granada and Antequera. Don't be put off by the fact the video is in Spanish - there are some great pictures, especially of the longest viaduct in Spain. It was interesting for me to see the manufacturing plants in there, and large units being transferred by road from the factory to location. Things I saw on a regular basis when I was young in the midlands, before a lot of places were closed down.



Will the passenger numbers justify this particular line, when it does open? I doubt there will be that many people travelling between Granada and Seville (although I suppose in summer the tourists on a fixed day schedule may use it a bit). However, I know there are lots of people in Madrid either of Granada origin, or who who would like to visit at the weekend. My guess is that numbers will be similar to those now using the Madrid-Valencia line (numbers are still increasing on this line).

Domino

Stevie, I also have doubts about the passenger numbers, also what will it do to the thriving coach business.
The bus from Granada to the Airport takes about 90mins, runs approximately hourly and costs about €12. how much will the train be and at what frequency?

But this was planned by some to be an integral part of the Coastal network, especially as there are a number of potential problems in taking it on a truly coastal route - not least would be the already heavy housing development in that area. But the last I heard that is what they are going to do, take it truly coastal, but for freight only.

Have you heard about a decision on the location of the station in Granada.? many thought it would be the existing station but I read in the paper a few weeks ago someone was proposing using a disused sugar factory in Maracena and that plans had been drawn up.

at the moment there is plenty of preparation and bed laying but not much in the way of actual track being laid, so it looks like a new road rather than a railway.
they have been building bridges galore, some of them quite huge just to allow access across from little villages and hamlets where the tarmac to and from is the only piece of smooth tarmac for miles.

I believe the A92/A92G is being diverted at great expense so they can put in a bridge under it.

steviedeluxe

I get the feeling that this line will be busy at certain times of the year. In summer, the tourists doing a tour of Andalucia - 2 days in Seville, 2 days Granada, 2 days Cordoba - may well utilise it. Also, on holiday weekends travellers from Madrid (and even Aragon) will fill out the carriages. But I can't see that many commuters using it between Seville and Granada, so the numbers will be variable. I was perhaps being optimistic comparing it to the Madrid-Valencia line, which is used by businessmen to some extent.
As for the coastal line, I'm putting that in the same category as HS2 or Boris Island in the UK. It may turn up one day, but I doubt very much I'll be around to see it.

Domino

well yes, perhaps falls inbetween HS2 and Boris Island. Eddie Stobart has pinned alot of hopes on his airport at Southend becoming part of the London airport necklace

with the current holes in the infrastructure financially it would make sense to take it from Granada to Murcia et al with the freight and passengers mixing on same tracks. however, as usual vested interest will out.

looking at that video there are some stupendous engineering feats, but I do wonder how many of them were really necessary, especially as it is going to be a scar on outstanding scenery for the next 100 years or more. But the local farmers will be able to get their tractors to the olive trees without being inconvenienced and having to use a bridge.

Casa Santo Estevo

Judging by the facts given in this programme the answer is no. even the most popular lines cannot be classified as VFM.

cricketman

The Salvados programmes are excellent. They tackle the current political and economic problems in Spain in a thoughtful and intelligent way. I recommend them to anyone who wants to learn about the situation in Spain.

The presenter used to take the p*ss out of the people he interviewed but this last season is much more serious and respectful.

He interviewed Jaume Matas a few weeks ago, today he has been sentenced to 6 years in prison. Good to see that the corrupt politicians are getting their comeupance