AVE High-Speed Train Links Barcelona, Madrid
Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 02.21.08 | 10:31 AM ET
Service between two of Spain’s biggest and most-traveled cities opened yesterday, with the first train completing the 342-mile journey to Madrid in 2 hours, 35 minutes. The BBC and others have the story, and the Los Angeles Times Daily Travel & Deal blog breaks the train down by the numbers.
Spanish riders had been waiting more than a decade for the completion of the line, which was stalled by the appearance of sink holes on the final stretch outside Barcelona.
Meanwhile, here in the U.S., we’ve been waiting, uh, forever. The most promising development, a proposed line in California, remains on the backburner, with financial issues and, according to some people, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, standing in the way.
But, hey, we’ve got a slick promotional video!
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Michael Yessis is the cofounder and coeditor-in-chief of World Hum.
Gloria Stenberg 02.21.08 | 1:42 PM ET
I jut went to Europe and New York, and transportation is amazing, is great and most of all affordable to everyone.,
It is so sad hat California of all United States, with all the money and fame we are so behind., we not too long ago we finally have “metro” but yet again is not affordable it is so expensive for the middle class.
hoteles 05.21.08 | 7:30 AM ET
I am from Spain and for me it is dificult to understund that in Usa you need your own car if you want to go to gym or supermarket.
Troy 10.05.08 | 3:41 PM ET
While the AVE may be a wonderful promotional stunt for the government here in Spain, it has turned into a class war. The semi-public train company RENFE has cancelled all other service between the two cities, thus forcing you to either take the VERY expensive fast train, or get on a polluting bus.
Looks great in the news, but bad news for travelers on a budget.