http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2014/05/...75_116053.html
Suspected corruption concerning Barcelona AVE construction works.

Makes me wonder just how much more of our hard earned cash has been creamed off in other AVE projects ?

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/05/07/...53_614736.html

Yet another AVE fiasco with zillions disappearing into a big black-hole/tunnel and still no end in sight.

This was discussed on las mañanas de cuatro with jesus cintora today, incredible amount of dodgy money in construction over here. If you've not watched this program it's on canal 4 @ 12:20 and repetition can be viewed here --> http://www.cuatro.com/las-mananas-de-cuatro/

I don't think anyone could really put a finger on even approx. how much, other than to say that "corrupcion" to the Spanish, simply means business as usual.

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/05/08/...30_329011.html

Was the Corunya tragedy simply a repeat performance of Valencia ?

now where was there a problem with a company called Cementation ??
and Rolls Royce
and .............

in many countries "greasing the palm" or "greasing the wheels" is normal, just remember not to get in too deep and not get the contract.

"whorabouttheuktheneh"

Try reading the link, much more to it than simply greasing palms.

If I said they'd gone to "great lengths"(pun) to fix this scam, it might give you a clue.

I KNOW it doesn't really belong here, but it does put the problems of the Spanish railways into perspective.

And it's a bloody good laugh.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...platforms.html

That's a real "faux pas" !

Reminds me of a brand new bus station built in the S.of Tenerife quite a few years back.

Only problem was that the entrance was so badly designed and narrow, that no buses could get into it.

reminds me of back home, local bus co decided to take on some ex-London buses to extend their fleet.
Except they were all too tall to go under local bridges.
The first one I was on on my way to work, at 0745 it arrived at a bridge under the East Coast mainline, driver only pulled up 2ft from hitting the bridge.
All passengers for the factory on the other side got out and ran to beat the clock card.

but they were obtained at a good price

Joke in a French newspaper

"The Paris train is approaching the platform. Please pull your stomachs in"

Bearing in mind that I guess the old trains will still be in use, what's the Frecnh for 2Mind the gap!"

Regs

Simon

World's longest railway' links Madrid and China

China launched an 82-wagon cargo train on Tuesday which will take 21 days to travel 10,000km (6,200 miles) and pass through six other countries as it moves goods from the industrial city of Yiwu to the Spanish capital, Madrid.

'World's longest railway' links Madrid and China - The Local