high-speed rail
or more minutes late. The quality of on-board Nostrum from Lorca
services is also very much higher than any other to Montpellier. These
mode of transport. There are three levels: trains have their own
l Tourist – second class, but with reclining generator car in the
seats, power sockets, headphones, and set to provide all the
generous leg room; hotel power.
l Preferente – first class, with complimentary The ‘normal’
newspapers, meals at your seat, hostess service gauge in Spain is
and car parking; and 1,668mm. All new
l Club – premium first class, which includes lines are being built
a-la-carte and bar at seat service. to 1,435mm (4-feet
Renfe has invested €3,150m in its fleet of 8.5 inches), which is
high-speed trains, the most modern in Europe. the standard gauge
The AVE (bird) S100, S102 and S103 sets in most countries,
operate at 300kph-plus, while the Alvia and including France,
Avant S104, S120 and S130 sets run at 200 Germany and the UK.
kph-plus. As lines are extended,
Also part of the high-speed network are the gauge changing sheds move with them. with considerable detail about network
the international services operated with Currently, work is well on the way to connect performance. It is unusual to see a railway with
gauge changing wheel sets. These include Barcelona to the SNCF as Port Bou. This will such a clear vision and the drive to make it
the Trenhotel Talgo sets in conjunction with provide a whole range of opportunities, but for happen, plus a government that looks beyond
the SNCF, the Salvador Dali from Milan to the moment, the overnight trains are expected the next election.
Barcelona, Francisco de Goya from Madrid to to continue as they service a particular niche Renfe is still a nationalised railway
Paris, Joan Miro from Barcelona to Paris and market. undertaking, although infrastructure, freight,
Pablo Casals from Zurich to Barcelona. Tickets for the high-speed trains are maintenance, and suburban railways have
These trains use the Talgo short coaches available in a range of prices, but pricing is been separated as per the EU regulation, but
that are articulated, with independent wheels not based on as obscure factors as it is in the the railway has not been fragmented as in the
at one end of the coach only, and passive tilt. UK. There is the price, and then reductions are UK, so that clear national vision and decisions
This means that the train is very low, and has available. Once purchased, the ticket includes can be taken.
a remarkable stability, giving the best possible a compulsory seat reservation. Passengers The Spanish railway high-speed network is
comfort levels. Gauge changing is done ‘on the accumulate in a large lounge, after passing impressive now, and by 2020 could well be the
move’ at frontiers. Trains feature cabins with their luggage through x-ray machines. Then, best in the world. Spain is a big country – high-
roomy showers and toilets en-suite, wide berths, the gate is announced, and tickets are cross- speed links bring the capital in the centre of
and bar and dining facilities. Cabins have key checked as passengers pass through onto the the country within easy reach of all areas of
card operated doors for security. A similar platform where the train is waiting, usually 10 the population. The network will shrink the
service run in conjunction with CP (Portugese minutes prior to departure. country, as well as tie it together cohesively.
Railways) operates from Madrid to Lisbon. In the central control building in Madrid, High-speed rail is the answer to the transport
Two other overnight train services are Catalan the controllers can see in real-time where needs of the future, on high capacity electrified
Talgo from Barcelona to Montpellier, and Mare each train in the whole of Spain is, along lines, with Spain leading the way.
a renfe aVe.
january 2010 : rail professional 29
RPJan10 pp28-29 Spain.indd 29 10/12/09 15:28:54
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