AVE

The logo of the AVE. A Talgo 350 train at Madrid Atocha station. AVE train Talgo 350 Map showing high-speed railway lines currently in operation (with opening date), under construction, and planned. Also shows upgraded lines. Map showing high speed services already in operation, under construction, planned or in study (February 2008). Also shows upgraded lines. Map showing AVE train stations AVE "Alstom" trainset at Córdoba. Talgo 350 train at Lleida Pirineus station

Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) is a service of high-speed trains operating at speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on dedicated track in Spain. The name is literally translated from Spanish as "Spanish High Speed", but also a play on the word ave, meaning "bird".

Unlike the rest of the Spanish broad-gauge network, the AVE uses standard gauge, permitting direct connections outside Spain in the future. All AVE trains are currently operated by RENFE, the Spanish state railway company, although private companies may be allowed to run lines in the future. On the line from Madrid to Seville, the service guarantees arrival within five minutes of the advertised time, and offers a full refund if the train is delayed further, although only 0.16% of trains have been so. In this regard, the punctuality of the AVE is exceptional compared to other non-long-distance RENFE services. On other AVE lines, this punctuality promise is more lax (15 minutes on the Barcelona line). A possible reason for this is that AVE services slow down to 200 km/h for the Sierra Morena section of the journey, possibly on account of occasional tight curves, and 250 km/h for the Córdoba-Seville section, possibly on account of medium-speed services running on the line, meaning that they have an easy means of recovering lost time if held up earlier in the journey.

History

New rail link to Andalusia

Towards the end of the 1980s a new line was planned to join the Castilian Meseta with Andalusia without passing through the Despeñaperros national park. After considering various options it was decided that a standard-gauge line, allowing for Spain's first high-speed rail link, would be built. The project was named N.A.F.A. (Nuevo Acceso Ferroviario a Andalucía/New Rail Link to Andalusia) and was meant to help revitalise the stagnant southern Spanish economy. The line was inaugurated on 14 April 1992 to coincide with Expo 92 being held in Seville. Seven days later on 21 April 1992 commercial service began with six daily services stopping at Madrid, Seville, Córdoba, Puertollano and Ciudad Real. In October 1992 RENFE began the AVE Lanzadera service between Madrid and Puertollano and Ciudad Real.

It has been suggested that the PSOE government chose the French Alstom bid over the Siemens and Talgo bids for political rather than technical reasons, rewarding the French government for its assistance in capturing ETA activists who took "sanctuary" across the border in southern France.^[1] Seville's hosting of the 1992 World's Fair prompted its choice for the inaugural AVE line, but there were also accusations that the Spanish head of government Felipe González favoured his home city;^[2] apparently, he agreed to support Barcelona in bidding for the 1992 Summer Olympics if Seville would be connected to the AVE first.^[3] On the other hand, Seville is still the fourth largest city in Spain, after Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, with a population of some 700,000. It is also the capital of Andalusia — Spain's most populous Autonomous Community.

In January 1993 the Talgo 200 Madrid–Málaga service commenced, which used AVE lines as far as Córdoba and then Spanish-gauge conventional track to reach Málaga. On 23 April of that year, the AVE set a new top speed of 356.8 km/h (221.7 mph) on a test run. Later in 1993 the mixed-method services Talgo 200 Madrid–Cádiz and Talgo 200 Madrid–Huelva began.

In 1994 AVE trains on the Madrid–Seville line began to run at 300 km/h, cutting journey times by 40 minutes and covering the 471 km in 2½ hours.

Although in 1999 RENFE began a mixed-service Talgo 200 Madrid–Algeciras route, this was, along with the other mixed services, transferred to Grandes Líneas Renfe (RENFE's Spanish gauge long-distance brand) following changes to plans for high-speed rail in Spain.

The last segment of the Madrid–Málaga line was completed on 24 December 2007.

AVANT – Media Distancia

In December 2004 a new medium distance service (AV Media Distancia operating under the 'Lanzadera' brand) began between Seville and Córdoba using new S-104 trains, reducing journey times between the two cities to 40 minutes. In 2005 the brand was renamed RENFE Avant and a further service was launched: Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.

The construction of a 21-kilometre (13 mi) stretch of high-speed line from Madrid to Toledo allowed the inauguration of a medium distance service in November 2005. The journey time between the two cities is now less than 30 minutes. The high-speed link combined with high property prices in Madrid has encouraged many Madrid commuters to settle in Ciudad Real, the first stop on the Madrid–Seville line. There has, however, been controversy over the construction of this line as the change to standard-gauge track meant that large towns such as Getafe, Aranjuez and Algodor, which now have no commercial services, lost their direct services to Toledo. Furthermore, since Toledo is now connected by standard-gauge track it is impossible for other passenger or goods trains to reach it that have not come from other high-speed lines.

Further Avant services have been launched with the expansion of the AVE to Valladolid and Barcelona. See below for details of all Avant services.

Madrid–Barcelona

The Madrid–Zaragoza–Barcelona line was inaugurated on 20 February 2008, after parts of the line had operated since 2003 (Madrid–Zaragoza–Lleida) and 2006 (Lleida–Tarragona). Seventeen trains run now every day between 6:00 and 21:00 hrs. This line is currently one of the world's fastest long-distance trains in commercial operation, ^[4] with non-stop trains covering the 621 km (386 mi) between the two cities in just 2 hours 38 minutes, and those calling at all stations in 3 hours 23 minutes.

Madrid–Valladolid

The Madrid–Segovia–Valladolid line was inaugurated on 22 December 2007. It Includes a tunnel of 28 kilometres (17 mi) at Guadarrama, which is the fourth longest train tunnel in Europe. Valladolid will become the hub for all AVE lines connecting the north and north-west of Spain with the rest of the country. Trainsets used on this line include S-120 (max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)), S-130 (Patito, max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)) and the S102 (Pato, max speed 320 km/h/199 mph).

Trains

Currently, there are several series of High speed trains that run the AVE service:

• S/100, manufactured by Alstom
• S/102, manufactured by Talgo and Bombardier
• S/103, manufactured by Siemens, marketed globally under the brand Siemens Velaro

There are also other series of trains that are considered high-speed, but do not run under the AVE name. They run under the brand Alvia, and are variable-gauge trains. They can run on high-speed lines at a maximum of 250 km/h (155 mph), and can also change between standard- and Iberian-gauge lines without stopping. The trains that are operated under the Alvia brand are:

• S/120, manufactured by CAF and Alstom
• S/130, manufactured by Talgo and Bombardier

Operational services

The Santa Justa train station of Seville

Currently the Spanish high speed network is made up of the following services:

• AVE Madrid–Seville via Ciudad Real, Puertollano, and Córdoba.
• AVE Madrid–Valladolid via Segovia.
• AVE Madrid–Barcelona via Guadalajara, Calatayud, Zaragoza, Lleida and Tarragona.
• AVE Barcelona–Seville via Zaragoza and Córdoba.
• AVE Barcelona–Málaga via Zaragoza and Córdoba.
• AVE Madrid–Huesca via Guadalajara, Calatayud, and Zaragoza.
• AVE Madrid–Málaga via Ciudad Real, Puertollano, Córdoba, and Antequera.

• AVANT (mid distance) Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.
• AVANT (mid distance) Madrid–Toledo.
• AVANT (mid distance) Málaga–Córdoba–Seville via Antequera and Puente Genil
• AVANT (mid distance) Segovia–Madrid.
• AVANT (mid distance) Calatayud–Zaragoza
• AVANT (mid distance) Zaragoza–Huesca
• AVANT (mid distance) Barcelona–Lleida

• ALVIA ^[5] (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Irún, via Valladolid, Burgos and San Sebastián.
• ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Bilbao, via Valladolid and Burgos.
• ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Santander–Alicante, via Madrid and Valladolid.
• ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Gijón–Alicante, via Valladolid and Madrid.
• ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Logroño.
• ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Irún, via Zaragoza, Pamplona and San Sebastián.
• ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Bilbao, via Zaragoza and Logroño.
• ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Vigo, via Zaragoza, Pamplona, Vitoria, Burgos, Palencia and Leon. With connection services to Gijón in Leon and to A Coruña in Monforte de Lemos
• ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Huelva, via Madrid and Seville.

The central hub of the AVE system is Madrid's Puerta de Atocha, except for the Valladolid line, which terminates at Chamartin Station.

Construction and current development

Northeastern corridor - to the French border

Construction is currently under way to connect the new high-speed line from Barcelona to the French TGV network via the Perthus tunnel under the Pyrenees. As of April 2009^[update], the AVE network ends at Barcelona, and the TGV at Montpellier.

The line from Barcelona to Figueres is scheduled to open in 2012, as well as the line from Figueres to Perpignan in the same year. Funding arrangements have already been agreed for the Nîmes-Montpellier bypass^[6], but it will be a few years before the 80 km track is complete. As a result, trains will initially use the existing railway line north of Perpignan to reach the TGV network at Montpellier.

The line will be operated by Talgo and Siemens AG trains, although it will require special dual-voltage rolling stock. The French line Perpignan – Montpellier is electrified at 1.5 kV DC, but Spanish trains use 25 kV AC. French trains are dual-voltage, allowing both TGV and regional trains to operate on the line. All Spanish trains are single-voltage.

North-Northwestern corridors

• Bilbao-Vitoria-San Sebastian (Basque Y)^[7]. This line will connect the three Basque capitals. The line will connect with Madrid via Valladolid, and with the French border via Irún and Bayonne.
• Variante de Pajares.^[8] This line will cross a very mountainous area between León and Asturias. It will form part of the high-speed rail line connecting Madrid with the Asturias region (Oviedo and Gijón).
• Valladolid-Burgos-Vitoria,^[9] the extension of the Madrid-Valladolid high speed rail line started construction 2009 and is expected to reach Burgos in 2013 and later Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2015, where it will connect with the Basque Y.
• Venta de Baños-León-Gijón,^[10] the high-speed rail line connecting Asturias with Madrid. It branches off the Valladolid-Vitoria line at Venta de Baños and then reaches Gijón via León and Oviedo. This line includes the Variante de Pajares. Construction started in 2009 (except variante de pajares which started 2003) and is expected to reach León in 2013 and Oviedo and Gijón in 2015-2016.
• Eje Atlántico de Alta Velocidad (Atlantic line). This line will connect all Galician coastal cities, including A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela and Vigo, with the Portuguese border, and eventually with Porto. By 2012 it is expected that the line will be finished between A Coruña and Vigo.
• Olmedo-Santiago de Compostela,^[11] the high-speed rail line that will connect Galicia and the Eje Atlántico de Alta Velocidad with Madrid. The northern part of the line between Ourense and Santiago de Compostela is expected to enter revenue service in 2012 and the southern part, between Olmedo (130 km north of Madrid on the Madrid-Valladolid line) and Zamora, in 2014. The central part, which crosses some of Spain's most remote and fragile nature areas, is expected to open in 2018.

Southwest - Portuguese corridor

• Cáceres-Mérida-Badajoz-Lisbon.^[12] This line will connect the two peninsular capitals in 2 hours and 45 minutes,^[13] connecting the south-west region of Extremadura to the high-speed network. This line has been a key issue in bilateral summits in recent years. Both Spanish and Portuguese track should be completed around 2013, after the Portuguese government brought forward its plans from 2015.^[14] It is not clear if there will finally be a station in the Spanish town of Mérida. The line would link with High-speed rail in Portugal, a project announced by the Portuguese government in February 2009.

South

• Seville-Cádiz, expected to enter full revenue service 2012.
• Eje Ferroviario Transversal,^[15] the Andalucian high-speed rail line connecting Huelva, Seville, Granada and Almería. Part of the line is financed and built by the Andalucian government.
• Madrid-Jaén, the high-speed rail line connecting Madrid with the provincial capital Jaén. Part of the line will use the existing Madrid-Seville line.

Eastern corridor

• Madrid-Levante,^[16] the high-speed rail network connecting Madrid with the Mediterranean coast, Cuenca, Albacete, Valencia, Alicante, Castellón, Murcia and Cartagena. The network totals 940 km of high-speed rail, of which 513 km will enter revenue service late 2010.
• Murcia-Almería,^[17] the high-speed rail line that extend the Levante network to Almería.

Future planned lines

In the short term, other connections to the LGV are planned. A new line to France is under construction at La Jonquera in Catalonia, with another proposed at Irun in the Basque Country. Other new lines are under consideration, including a line connecting Soria to the Madrid-Barcelona line at Calatayud. Finally, the Madrid-Barcelona line currently terminates in Barcelona's Estació de Sants, but there has been talk of a new station being built on the other side of the city in La Sagrera.

In the long term, the Spanish government has an ambitious plan to make 7,000 kilometres (4,300 mi) of high-speed railway operational by 2010, with all provincial capitals at most only 4 hours from Madrid, and 6½ hours from Barcelona. According to the Strategic Plan for railway infrastructures developed by the Spanish Ministerio de Fomento Ministry of Public Works, called PEIT, a second expansion programme is planned to start in 2010-11, when the last lines of the first programme still under construction begin operation. This plan has a ten-year scope, ending in 2020, and its ambition is to make the 300 km/h (186 mph) network reach 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) by the end of that year. This would be the most extensive network in Europe, with several operational links with France and Portugal, and is the most ambitious high-speed rail plan in the European Union.

Critics of this scheme point out that raising the average speed of Spain's regional trains would achieve a much greater global impact at much less cost. At present, there are some rural lines where average speeds barely exceed 60 km/h (37 mph). The speed between some provincial capitals is little better; for example, it takes some 8 hours to cover the 784 kilometres (487 mi) between León and Barcelona.

On the other hand, there has been a great improvement in speed and time for trains that link Madrid with other capitals that do not have direct AVE connections, but use the high-speed line for most of the route, such as:

• Huelva (3 h 45 min)
• Cádiz (4 h 30 min)
• Algeciras (5 h 25 min)
• Granada (4 h 36 min)
• Pamplona (2 h 59 min)
• Logroño (3 h 40 min)
• Irún (5 h 19  min)
• Bilbao (4 h 46 min)
• San Sebastián (5 h 20 min)
• Santander (4 h 25 min)
• Vitoria-Gasteiz (3 h 48 min)

See also

• Train categories in Europe

References

External links

• AVE at the RENFE (Spanish)
• current information and recent future of the Madrid-Lleida line (Spanish)