Spain the Model Train Citizen

As the U.S. eases itself into a national system of high speed trains, other nations seem to be decades ahead, especially Spain.

1 minute read

August 17, 2010, 2:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg

This piece from Miller-McCune takes a ride on the AVE in Spain and compares it to the struggling bid in America to create a high speed rail network.

"Unlike in America, no freight trains or conventional passenger trains compete for these tracks, which are fenced-off and raised on concrete ties. With few stops, the electrified AVE trains on Spain's four major routes maintain a 99 percent on-time record, according to RENFE, the state-owned company that operates the trains. RENFE puts its euros where its mouth is by offering passengers on the Madrid-Seville route a total cash refund if the AVE is more than five minutes late. With seats as cheap as $60 roundtrip, the Madrid-Barcelona trains have proven so successful that RENFE says it now has lured away nearly 50 percent of the Iberia Airlines traffic on that popular 375-mile route."

FULL STORY: Taking High-Speed Trains into the Future

Monday, August 16, 2010 in Miller-McCune

Government / Politics Infrastructure Transportation Europe United States High Speed Rail Spain AVE View More

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