Spain High-speed rail in Europe

ave network

the alta velocidad española (ave) high-speed rail system in spain has been in service since 1992, when madrid–sevilla (seville) route started running. ten other lines have been opened since, including 621-kilometre long madrid–barcelona line. of august 2017 total length of network 3,240 kilometres, making longest in europe, , second longest in world after mainland china.

the ambitious ave construction programme aims @ connecting high-speed trains provincial capitals madrid in less 3 hours , barcelona within 6 hours. initial deadline set 2020, program slowed down financial crisis: 2 main lines still under construction, mediterranean corridor , lisbon line, expected completed 2022.

the spanish , portuguese high-speed lines being built european standard or uic track gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) , electrified 25 kv @ 50 hz overhead wire. first hsl madrid seville equipped lzb train control system, later lines etcs.

elsewhere in europe, success of high-speed services has been due in part interoperability existing normal rail lines. interoperability between new ave lines , older iberian gauge network presents additional challenges. both talgo , caf supply trains variable gauge wheels operated automatic gauge-changer equipment trains pass through without stopping (alvias). lines being constructed dual gauge allow trains iberian , uic gauge run on same tracks. other lines have been re-equipped sleepers both iberian , uic gauge, such track can converted iberian uic gauge @ later time without changing sleepers.

the first ave trains link french standard gauge network began running in december 2013, when direct high-speed rail services between spain , france launched first time. connection between 2 countries made possible construction of perpignan–barcelona high-speed rail line (a follow-up of madrid-barcelona line), completed in january 2013, , international section perpignan-figueres, opened on december 2010 , includes new 8.3-kilometre (5.2 mi) tunnel under pyrenees. high-speed rail link connecting 2 countries @ irun/hendaye planned.

several new high-speed lines under construction design speed of 300–350 km/h, , several old lines being upgraded allow passenger trains operate @ 250 km/h.

three companies have built or build trains spanish high-speed railway network: spanish talgo, french alstom , german siemens ag. bombardier transportation partner in both talgo-led , siemens-led consortium. france build 25kv tgv lines way spanish border (there gap between nîmes , perpignan), multi-voltage trains still needed, trains travelling paris need travel last few kilometres on 1.5kv lines. end, renfe decided convert 10 existing ave s100 trains operate @ voltage (as french signalling systems), cost €30,000,000 instead of expected €270,000,000 new trains.