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Coordinates: 41°36′34″N 0°13′15″E / 41.6094°N 0.2207°E / 41.6094; 0.2207
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{{Short description|Railway line connecting Madrid and Barcelona, in Spain}}
{{About|the [[AVE]] [[high-speed rail]] line between [[Madrid]] and [[Barcelona]]|the conventional railway line|Madrid–Barcelona railway}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{infobox rail line
{{infobox rail line
|box_width = auto
| box_width = auto
|name = Madrid–Barcelona (- Figueres) high-speed rail line
| name = Madrid–Barcelona (- Figueres) high-speed rail line
|color =
| color =
|logo =
| logo =
|logo_width =
| logo_width =
|image = RENFE Class 103 Vinaixa.jpg
| image = RENFE Class 103 Vinaixa.jpg
|image_width = 360
| image_width = 360
|caption = [[AVE Class 103]] (Siemens Velaro) near Vinaixa
| caption = [[AVE Class 103]] (Siemens Velaro) near Vinaixa
|type = [[High-speed rail]]
| type = [[High-speed rail]]
|system =
| system =
|status = Operational
| status = Operational
|locale = Spain ([[Community of Madrid]], [[Castilla-La Mancha]],<br/>[[Aragon]], [[Catalonia]])
| locale = Spain ([[Community of Madrid]], [[Castilla-La Mancha]],<br/>[[Aragon]], [[Catalonia]])
|start = [[Madrid Atocha railway station|Madrid Puerta de Atocha]]
| start = [[Madrid Atocha railway station|Madrid Puerta de Atocha]]
|end = [[Barcelona Sants railway station|Barcelona Sants]]/[[Figueres Vilafant railway station|Figueres Vilafant]]
| end = [[Barcelona Sants railway station|Barcelona Sants]]/[[Figueres Vilafant railway station|Figueres Vilafant]]
|stations =
| stations =
|routes =
| routes =
| ridership2 = 4.4 million (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20200220/473667074278/ave-barcelona-madrid-cumple-12-anos-acumulando-mas-de-40-millones-de-viajeros.html|title=AVE Barcelona-Madrid cumple 12 años acumulando más de 40 millones de viajeros|website=[[La Vanguardia]]|date=20 February 2020|access-date=5 January 2021|language=es}}</ref>
|daily_ridership =
|open = 2008 (first section in 2003)
| open = 2008 (first section in 2003)
|close =
| close =
|owner = [[Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias|Adif]]
| owner = [[Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias|Adif]]
|operator = [[Renfe Operadora]]
| operator = [[Renfe Operadora]], [[SNCF]] (Ouigo), [[Trenitalia]] (Iryo)
|character =
| character =
|stock = [[AVE Class 103]], [[AVE Class 100|100]], and [[AVE Class 102|112]]
| stock = [[AVE Class 103]], [[AVE Class 100|100]], and [[AVE Class 102|112]]
|linelength = {{convert|620.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} (as far as Barcelona)<br/>{{convert|748.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} (as far as Figueres)
| linelength = {{convert|620.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} (as far as Barcelona)<br/>{{convert|748.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} (as far as Figueres)
|tracklength =
| tracklength =
|tracks = [[Double track]]
| tracks = [[Double track]]
|gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
|load_gauge =
| load_gauge =
|electrification = [[25 kV AC|{{nowrap|25 kV 50 Hz}}]]
| electrification = [[25 kV AC|{{nowrap|25 kV 50 Hz}}]]
|speed = |elevation =
| speed = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
|{{Cvt|300|km/h|round=10}}
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|map = {{Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line RDT}}
|'''2011 to 2016:'''
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|map_state = collapsed
|{{Cvt|310|km/h|round=5}}<ref name="geotren-max-speeds">[https://www.geotren.es/blog/velocidades-maximas-de-los-trenes-y-de-las-lineas/ "Velocidades máximas de los trenes y de las líneas"] (maximum speeds of the trains and of the lines), last updated on 10 December 2022, accessed on 27 April 2023.</ref>
}}
}}
| elevation =
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The '''Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line''' is a {{convert|621|km|adj=on}} [[standard gauge]] [[railway line]] inaugurated on 20 February 2008. Designed for speeds of {{convert|350|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} and compatibility with neighbouring countries' rail systems, it connects the cities of [[Madrid]] and [[Barcelona]] in 2 hours 30 minutes. In Barcelona the line is connected with the [[Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line]] leading into France, and so to the European high speed network.
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| map = {{Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line RDT}}
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| map_state = collapsed
}}
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The '''Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line''' is a {{convert|621|km|1|adj=on}} [[standard gauge]] [[railway line]] inaugurated on 20 February 2008. Designed for speeds of {{convert|350|km/h|4=1|abbr=on|round=}} and compatibility with neighbouring countries' rail systems, it connects the cities of [[Madrid]] and [[Barcelona]] in 2 hours 30 minutes. In Barcelona the line is connected with the [[Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line]] leading into France which connects it to the European high speed network.

Trains are operated by the national railway [[Renfe]] under the [[AVE]] and [[Avlo]] brands, and by private competitors [[Ouigo España]] and [[Iryo]].


== First stages ==
== First stages ==
In 2003 construction of the first phase of a new standard gauge line from Madrid to the French border (Madrid–Zaragoza–Lleida) was completed and on 11 October of that year commercial service began. This service also stopped at Guadalajara–Yebes and [[Calatayud]]. The service began running at only {{convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. On 19 May 2006, after two years of operation, speed was increased to {{convert|250|km/h|0|abbr=on}} when the Spanish [[Train protection system|ASFA]] signalling system was replaced with level 1 of the new European [[European Train Control System|ETCS/ERTMS]] system. On 16 October 2006 the trains on this line increased their operating speed to {{convert|280|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.
In 2003 construction of the first phase of a new standard gauge line from Madrid to the French border (Madrid–Zaragoza–Lleida) was completed and on 11 October of that year commercial service began. This service also stopped at Guadalajara–Yebes and [[Calatayud]]. The service began running at only {{convert|200|km/h|1|abbr=on}}. On 19 May 2006, after two years of operation, speed was increased to {{convert|250|km/h|1|abbr=on}} when the Spanish [[Train protection system|ASFA]] signalling system was replaced with level 1 of the new European [[European Train Control System|ETCS/ERTMS]] system. On 16 October 2006 the trains on this line increased their operating speed to {{convert|280|km/h|1|abbr=on}}.


On 18 December 2006 the [[AVE]] started operating to [[Camp de Tarragona railway station|Camp de Tarragona]], and on 7 May 2007 the service increased its speed to the maximum allowable for the line, {{convert|300|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. This puts Tarragona at 30 minutes from Lleida. The extension to Barcelona was delayed various times due to technical problems; the Ministerio de Fomento having originally forecast the AVE's arrival in Barcelona by the end of 2007.<ref>[http://www.lavanguardia.es/gen/20061218/51297191921/noticias/el-ave-llega-a-tarragona-lleida-madrid-barcelona-jose-montilla-generalitat-fomento-campo-magdalena-alvarez-joaquim-nadal-joan-rangel-joan-clos-girona.html La Vanguardia, 18 December 2006]{{dead link|date=February 2013}}</ref>
On 18 December 2006 the [[AVE]] started operating to [[Camp de Tarragona railway station|Camp de Tarragona]], and on 7 May 2007 the service increased its speed to the maximum allowable for the line, {{convert|300|km/h|1|abbr=on}}. This puts Tarragona at 30 minutes from Lleida. The extension to Barcelona was delayed various times due to technical problems; the Ministerio de Fomento having originally forecast the AVE's arrival in Barcelona by the end of 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/gen/20061218/51297191921/noticias/el-ave-llega-a-tarragona-lleida-madrid-barcelona-jose-montilla-generalitat-fomento-campo-magdalena-alvarez-joaquim-nadal-joan-rangel-joan-clos-girona.html |title=La Vanguardia, 18 December 2006 |access-date=17 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128032630/http://www.lavanguardia.es/gen/20061218/51297191921/noticias/el-ave-llega-a-tarragona-lleida-madrid-barcelona-jose-montilla-generalitat-fomento-campo-magdalena-alvarez-joaquim-nadal-joan-rangel-joan-clos-girona.html |archive-date=28 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


== Complete operation ==
== Complete operation ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2023}}
The complete line was opened February 2008. As of 2012, seventeen trains now run every day between the hours of 6&nbsp;am and 9&nbsp;pm, covering the distance between the two cities in just 2 hours 30 minutes for the direct trains, and in 3 hours and 10 minutes for those calling at all intermediate stations. Before the high-speed line was built, the journey between the two cities took more than six hours; and when the high speed line went only as far as Tarragona, 3 hours 45 minutes, operated with the [[Alvia]] service (120 series train), which continued on the conventional line to Barcelona, after a [[Variable gauge|change]] of [[rail gauge]].
The complete line was opened February 2008. As of 2012, seventeen trains now run every day between the hours of 6&nbsp;am and 9&nbsp;pm, covering the distance between the two cities in just 2 hours 30 minutes for the direct trains, and in 3 hours and 10 minutes for those calling at all intermediate stations. Before the high-speed line was built, the journey between the two cities took more than six hours.
[[File:Madrid-Barcelona HS line.svg|thumb|Madrid-Barcelona-Figueres line in red]]


== Speed ==
== Speed ==
[[File:Velocidades máximas Madrid-Frontera Francesa.jpg|thumb|Maximum speed profile of the "Madrid-Barcelona-French Border" line, in 2015.]]
It was originally forecast that, after reaching Barcelona in 2004, the line would run at {{convert|350|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, the maximum capable speed of the new Siemens AVE trains which have replaced the Talgo Bombardier AVE S102, after the installation of level 2 of the [[European Train Control System|ETCS/ERTMS]]. But on the AVE's first day of operating at {{convert|300|km/h|0|abbr=on}} to Tarragona the Minister of Public Works, Magdalena Álvarez, stated that the maximum commercial operating speeds of the AVE on all lines would be {{convert|300|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>[https://archive.is/20070521133810/http://www.lavanguardia.es/gen/20070507/51343707969/noticias/la-velocidad-comercial-maxima-del-ave-en-espanya-sera-de-300-kmh-madrid-tarragona-barcelona-fomento-magdalena-alvarez-talgo-antonio-gonzalez-sevilla.html La Vanguardia, 7 May 2007]</ref>
It was originally forecast that, after reaching Barcelona in 2004, the line would run at {{convert|350|km/h|1|abbr=on}}, the maximum capable speed of the new Siemens AVE trains [[Renfe Class 103|S103]] which have replaced the Talgo Bombardier AVE S102, after the installation of level 2 of the [[European Train Control System|ETCS/ERTMS]]. But on the AVE's first day of operating at {{convert|300|km/h|1|abbr=on}} to Tarragona the Minister of Public Works, Magdalena Álvarez, stated that the maximum commercial operating speeds of the AVE on all lines would be {{convert|300|km/h|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>[https://archive.today/20070521133810/http://www.lavanguardia.es/gen/20070507/51343707969/noticias/la-velocidad-comercial-maxima-del-ave-en-espanya-sera-de-300-kmh-madrid-tarragona-barcelona-fomento-magdalena-alvarez-talgo-antonio-gonzalez-sevilla.html La Vanguardia, 7 May 2007]</ref>
Nevertheless, in October 2011 the speed was raised to 310&nbsp;km/h on parts of the railway.<ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/madrid-barcelona-at-310-kmh-with-etcs-level-2.html Madrid - Barcelona at 310 km/h with ETCS Level 2]</ref>

On 11 December 2011, the speed was raised to {{Cvt|310|km/h|4=1}} on a {{Cvt|60|km|4=1}} section of the railway (between km 64.4, near Guadalajara, and km 124.4), with plans to further increase the speed to {{Cvt|320|km/h|4=1}} on a {{Cvt|24|km|4=1}} sub-section (from km 81.0 to km 105.24) and plans to rapidly extend the {{Cvt|310|km/h|4=1}} speed throughout the Spanish high-speed network.<ref>[https://www.vialibre-ffe.com/noticias.asp?not=8102 "310 km/h: velocidad máxima de circulación en España"] (310 km/h: maximum circulation speed in Spain), ViaLibre, 13 December 2011.</ref><ref name="geotren-max-speeds"/><ref>[https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2011/11/23/empresas/1322059179_850215.html "Renfe y Adif pondrán el AVE a 310 km/h en toda la red antes del verano de 2012"] (Renfe and ADIF will set the AVE at 310 km/h in the whole network before the summer 2012), ''Cinco Dias'' (''El Pais''), 23 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/madrid-barcelona-at-310-kmh-with-etcs-level-2.html Madrid – Barcelona at 310 km/h with ETCS Level 2]</ref> Nevertheless, after almost 5 years of operation with S103 trains running at up to {{Cvt|310|km/h|4=1}} on this section, the speed was decreased back to {{Cvt|300|km/h|4=1}} on 17 August 2016.<ref name="geotren-max-speeds"/> The tests performed by ADIF had revealed that, at speeds exceeding {{convert|300|km/h|1|abbr=on}}, the air which the trains were moving underneath was causing some stones of the ballast to rise, hitting the trains and causing damage of various kinds (the Spanish high-speed railways follow the French high-speed rail model of laying the rails on a bed of stones known as ballast, instead of laying the tracks on concrete plates, as is done for high-speed rail in Germany).<ref name="leonoticias2015">[https://www.leonoticias.com/frontend/leonoticias/El-Ave-Necesita-Seis-Meses-Para-Llegar-A-300-Kilometros-Por-vn185260-vst508 "El futuro del tren en Léon. El Ave necesita seis meses para llegar a 300 kilómetros por hora"] (The future of train in Leon. The AVE needs 6 months to arrive at 300 km/h), 27 September 2015, ''leonoticias''.</ref> Due to this technical limitation and the substantial increase in costs and power necessary to break the {{convert|300|km/h|1|abbr=on}} barrier, the AVE in Spain abandoned prospects of operating at speeds over {{convert|300|km/h|1|abbr=on}} in the short or medium term.<ref name="leonoticias2015"/>


== Usage ==
== Usage ==
It was forecast that the AVE would substantially replace air traffic on the Barcelona - Madrid route (in the same way that the [[Eurostar]] has on the [[LGV Nord|London-Paris]]/London-Brussels routes and France's [[TGV]] has on the [[LGV Sud-Est|Paris-Lyon route]]). Indeed, by the end of 2017, the line had already taken 63% of the traffic, stealing most of it from aircraft.<ref>[https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/66620/barcelona-madrid-85-million-passengers/ Barcelona-Madrid high-speed line has had more than 85 million passengers] 21 February 2018</ref> A few years before the Madrid-Barcelona route was the [[World's busiest passenger air routes|world's busiest passenger air route]] in 2007 with 971 scheduled flights per week (both directions).<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3433488/5280241/KS-SF-09-001-EN.PDF/eada8662-78ec-47ef-97df-e36deaf4de8e Air passenger transport in Europe in 2007]</ref> Similarly more than 80% of travellers between Madrid and Seville use the AVE, with fewer than 20% travelling by air.<ref>Juan Carlos Martín and Gustavo Nombela, "Microeconomic impacts of investments in high speed trains in Spain", ''Annals of Regional Science'', vol. 41, no. 3, September 2007</ref>
It was forecast that the AVE would substantially replace air traffic on the Barcelona – Madrid route (in the same way that the [[Eurostar]] has on the [[LGV Nord|London-Paris]]/London-Brussels routes and France's [[TGV]] has on the [[LGV Sud-Est|Paris-Lyon route]]). Indeed, by the end of 2017, the line had already taken 63% of the traffic, taking most of it from aircraft.<ref>[https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/66620/barcelona-madrid-85-million-passengers/ Barcelona-Madrid high-speed line has had more than 85 million passengers] 21 February 2018</ref> A few years before the Madrid-Barcelona route was the [[List of busiest passenger air routes|world's busiest passenger air route]] in 2007 with 971 scheduled flights per week (both directions).<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3433488/5280241/KS-SF-09-001-EN.PDF/eada8662-78ec-47ef-97df-e36deaf4de8e Air passenger transport in Europe in 2007]</ref> Similarly more than 80% of travelers between Madrid and Seville use the AVE, with fewer than 20% traveling by air.<ref>Juan Carlos Martín and Gustavo Nombela, "Microeconomic impacts of investments in high speed trains in Spain", ''Annals of Regional Science'', vol. 41, no. 3, September 2007</ref>


== Criticism ==
== Criticism ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2023}}
There was criticism during the construction of the Madrid-Barcelona line. A critical report by the consulting firm [[KPMG]], commissioned by ADIF (''Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias'') at the behest of the Ministry for Public Works (''{{lang|es|Ministerio de Fomento}}'') on 23 June 2004, pointed to a lack of in-depth studies and over-hasty execution of works as the most important reasons for the problems that dogged construction of the AVE line. For example, during the construction of the AVE tunnel near Barcelona, a number of nearby buildings suffered damage from a sinkhole that appeared near a commuter rail station, damaging one of its platforms. The construction committee of Barcelona's famed [[Sagrada Familia]] church lobbied for a re-routing of the tunnel - it passes within metres of the massive church's foundations. It also passes equally near the [[UNESCO]]-recognized [[Casa Milà]] also designed by [[Antoni Gaudí]].
There was criticism during the construction of the Madrid-Barcelona line. A critical report by the consulting firm [[KPMG]], commissioned by ADIF (''Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias'') at the behest of the Ministry for Public Works (''{{lang|es|Ministerio de Fomento}}'') on 23 June 2004, pointed to a lack of in-depth studies and over-hasty execution of works as the most important reasons for the problems that dogged construction of the AVE line. For example, during the construction of the AVE tunnel near Barcelona, a number of nearby buildings suffered damage from a sinkhole that appeared near a commuter rail station, damaging one of its platforms. The construction committee of Barcelona's famed [[Sagrada Familia]] church lobbied for a re-routing of the tunnel – it passes within metres of the massive church's foundations. It also passes equally near the [[UNESCO]]-recognized [[Casa Milà]] also designed by [[Antoni Gaudí]].


Furthermore, until 2005 both [[Siemens]] and [[Talgo]]/[[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]] [[Electric Multiple Unit|train sets]] failed to meet scheduled speed targets, although in a test run during the homologation tests of the new S102 trains of [[RENFE]], a train-set [[Talgo]] 350 (AVE S-102) reached a speed of {{convert|365|km/h|abbr=on}} on the night of the 25/26 June 2006, and in July 2006 a [[Siemens Velaro]] train-set (AVE S-103) reached the highest top speed ever in Spain: {{convert|403.7|km/h|abbr=on}}. At this time, it was a record for railed vehicles in Spain and a [[Land speed record for railed vehicles|world record]] for ''unmodified'' commercial service trainsets, as the earlier [[TGV]] and [[InterCityExpress|ICE]] records were achieved with specially modified and shortened trainsets, and the 1996 [[Shinkansen]] record of {{convert|443|km/h|abbr=on}} was using a test (non-commercial) trainset.
Furthermore, until 2005 both [[Siemens]] and [[Talgo]]/[[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]] [[Electric Multiple Unit|train sets]] failed to meet scheduled speed targets, although in a test run during the homologation tests of the new S102 trains of [[RENFE]], a train-set [[Talgo]] 350 (AVE S-102) reached a speed of {{convert|365|km/h|1|abbr=on}} on the night of the 25/26 June 2006, and in July 2006 a [[Siemens Velaro]] train-set (AVE S-103) reached the highest top speed ever in Spain: {{convert|403.7|km/h|abbr=on}}. At this time, it was a record for railed vehicles in Spain and a [[Land speed record for railed vehicles|world record]] for ''unmodified'' commercial service trainsets, as the earlier [[TGV]] and [[InterCityExpress|ICE]] records were achieved with specially modified and shortened trainsets, and the 1996 [[Shinkansen]] record of {{convert|443|km/h|1|abbr=on}} was using a test (non-commercial) trainset.
[[File:Madrid Barcelona services.jpg|thumb|right|Planned services in 2012]]
[[File:Madrid Barcelona services.jpg|thumb|right|Planned services in 2012]]
[[File:RENFE Class 103 Paracuellos de la Ribera.jpg|thumb|At Paracuellos de la Ribera]]
[[File:RENFE Class 103 Paracuellos de la Ribera.jpg|thumb|At Paracuellos de la Ribera]]
Line 62: Line 77:


=== Barcelona to Figueres ===
=== Barcelona to Figueres ===
Originally planned to open in 2009, the extension of some Madrid-Barcelona routes to [[Figueres Vilafant railway station]] via [[Girona]], opened on 7 January 2013. This made possible upon the completion of the {{convert|131|km|mi|1|adj=on}} Barcelona-[[Figueres]] section of the [[Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line]] that connected for first time the Spanish [[AVE]] high-speed network with the French [[TGV]] high-speed network.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Spain completes Iberia's high-speed link to Europe |url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/spain-opens-iberias-high-speed-rail-link-to-europe.html |newspaper=International Railway Journal |location= |publisher= |date=1 August 2013|accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref> There have been delays in building a four kilometre tunnel in [[Girona]], the first phase of which was finished in September 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/girona-tunnelling-makes-progress.html|accessdate=23 September 2010|title=Railway Gazette: Girona tunnelling makes progress}}</ref> and controversy over the route between [[Barcelona Sants railway station|Sants]] and [[Sagrera railway station|Sagrera]] stations in Barcelona.<ref>{{cite news|title=Perpignan-Barcelona AVE to open in 2012 or .... 2020?|date=August 2007|work=Today's railways Europe, Issue 140|page=10}}</ref> {{As of|2013|1}} there are eight trains a day running from Madrid, connecting at Figueres Vilafant with two TGV services to Paris.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/barcelona-figueres-high-speed-rail-line-to-open-on-january-7.html|title=Barcelona - Figueres high speed rail line to open on January 7|work=International Rail Journal|date=10 December 2012|accessdate=18 January 2012}}</ref>
Originally planned to open in 2009, the extension of some Madrid-Barcelona routes to [[Figueres–Vilafant railway station]] via [[Girona]], opened on 9 January 2013.<ref>[https://www.adifaltavelocidad.es/l%C3%ADnea-madrid-barcelona-frontera-francesa Madrid-Barcelona-French Border line] on the [[Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias|ADIF]] website.</ref> This made possible upon the completion of the {{convert|131|km|mi|1|adj=on}} Barcelona-[[Figueres]] section of the [[Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line]] that connected for the first time the Spanish [[AVE]] high-speed network with the French [[TGV]] high-speed network.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Spain completes Iberia's high-speed link to Europe |url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/spain-opens-iberias-high-speed-rail-link-to-europe.html |newspaper=International Railway Journal |date=8 January 2013|access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref> There have been delays in building a four kilometre tunnel in [[Girona]], the first phase of which was finished in September 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/girona-tunnelling-makes-progress.html|access-date=23 September 2010|title=Railway Gazette: Girona tunnelling makes progress}}</ref> and controversy over the route between [[Barcelona Sants railway station|Sants]] and [[Sagrera railway station|Sagrera]] stations in Barcelona.<ref>{{cite news|title=Perpignan-Barcelona AVE to open in 2012 or .... 2020?|date=August 2007|work=Today's railways Europe, Issue 140|page=10}}</ref> {{As of|2013|1}} there are eight trains a day running from Madrid, connecting at Figueres Vilafant with two TGV services to Paris.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/barcelona-figueres-high-speed-rail-line-to-open-on-january-7.html|title=Barcelona - Figueres high speed rail line to open on January 7|work=International Rail Journal|date=10 December 2012|access-date=18 January 2012}}</ref>


=== Figueres to Perpignan ===
=== Figueres to Perpignan ===
This is an international [[high-speed rail|high speed rail section]] between France and Spain. The section connects two cities on opposite sides of the border, [[Perpignan]] in [[Roussillon]], [[France]], and [[Figueres]] in [[Catalonia]], [[Spain]]. It consists of a {{convert|44.4|km|mi|1|adj=on}} railway which crosses the [[France|French]]–[[Spain|Spanish]] border via the [[Perthus Tunnel]], an {{convert|8.3|km|mi|1|adj=on}} tunnel bored under the Perthus Pass.<ref name=db>{{cite web|url= http://en.structurae.de/projects/data/index.cfm?id=p0000133 |title= Perpignan-Figueras High-speed Rail Line|publisher= [[Structurae]]|accessdate= 30 January 2009}}</ref> The section is open to high speed trains and freight. Construction was completed in February 2009, although services did not run until a station was built on the line at Figueres. As of March 2015, a daily TGV service connects Paris to Barcelona Sants via Perpignan-Figueres with 2 pairs of trips, plus other connections involving Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sncf.com/en/trains/tgv-france-espagne|title=Spain—closer than ever before|accessdate=3 March 2015|work=[[SNCF]]}}</ref>
This is an international [[high-speed rail|high speed rail section]] between France and Spain. The section connects two cities on opposite sides of the border, [[Perpignan]] in [[Occitania (administrative region)|Occitanie]], [[France]], and [[Figueres]] in [[Catalonia]], [[Spain]]. It consists of a {{convert|44.4|km|mi|1|adj=on}} railway which crosses the [[France|French]]–[[Spain|Spanish]] border via the [[Perthus Tunnel]], an {{convert|8.3|km|mi|1|adj=on}} tunnel bored under the Perthus Pass.<ref name=db>{{cite web|url= http://en.structurae.de/projects/data/index.cfm?id=p0000133 |title= Perpignan-Figueras High-speed Rail Line|publisher= [[Structurae]]|access-date= 30 January 2009}}</ref> The section is open to high speed trains and freight. Construction was completed in February 2009, although services did not run until a station was built on the line at Figueres. As of March 2015, a daily TGV service connects Paris to Barcelona Sants via Perpignan-Figueres with 2 pairs of trips, plus other connections involving Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sncf.com/en/trains/tgv-france-espagne|title=Spain—closer than ever before|access-date=3 March 2015|work=[[SNCF]]}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[High-speed rail in Spain]]
* [[LGV Méditerranée]]
* [[LGV Méditerranée]]
* [[TER Languedoc-Roussillon]]
* [[TER Languedoc-Roussillon]]
* [[List of highest railways in Europe]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 77: Line 94:
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


===Further reading===
==Further reading==
*{{cite news|last=Brunhouse |first=Jay |title=All Aboard » New high-speed Barcelona-Madrid |url=http://www.intltravelnews.com/2009/07/all-aboard-%C2%BB-new-high-speed-barcelona-madrid-3 |accessdate=2 April 2013 |newspaper= International Travel News |date=July 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204093017/http://intltravelnews.com/2009/07/all-aboard-%C2%BB-new-high-speed-barcelona-madrid-3 |archivedate=4 February 2013 |df= }}
*{{cite news|last=Brunhouse |first=Jay |title=All Aboard » New high-speed Barcelona-Madrid |url=http://www.intltravelnews.com/2009/07/all-aboard-%C2%BB-new-high-speed-barcelona-madrid-3 |access-date=2 April 2013 |newspaper= International Travel News |date=July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204093017/http://intltravelnews.com/2009/07/all-aboard-%C2%BB-new-high-speed-barcelona-madrid-3 |archive-date=4 February 2013 }}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line (Adif line 050)}}
{{Commons category|Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line (Adif line 050)}}
* [http://www.adifaltavelocidad.es/en_US/infraestructuras/lineas_de_alta_velocidad/madrid_barcelona_frontera_francesa/madrid_barcelona_frontera_francesa.shtml Official site HSR Madrid–Barcelona] at [[Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias|adif.es]]
* [http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/larga_distancia/productos/index.html AVE-Long Distance] at [[Renfe|renfe.com]]


{{Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line}}
{{Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line}}
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{{High-speed railway lines}}
{{High-speed railway lines}}
{{Railway lines in Catalonia}}
{{Railway lines in Catalonia}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2013}}


{{coord|41.6094|N|0.2207|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}
{{coord|41.6094|N|0.2207|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Madrid-Barcelona High-Speed Rail Line}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madrid-Barcelona High-Speed Rail Line}}
[[Category:Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line]]
[[Category:Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line| ]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2008]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2008]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Catalonia]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Catalonia]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in Spain]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in Spain]]
[[Category:Transport in Alt Empordà]]
[[Category:Transport in Alt Empordà]]
[[Category:Transport in Barcelona]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Barcelona]]
[[Category:Transport in Figueres]]
[[Category:Transport in Figueres]]
[[Category:Transport in Girona]]
[[Category:Transport in Girona]]
[[Category:Transport in Lleida]]
[[Category:Transport in Lleida]]
[[Category:Transport in Madrid]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Madrid]]
[[Category:Transport in Tarragonès]]
[[Category:Transport in Tarragonès]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in Spain]]
[[Category:25 kV AC railway electrification]]

Latest revision as of 21:41, 7 November 2023

This article is about the AVE high-speed rail line between Madrid and Barcelona. For the conventional railway line, see Madrid–Barcelona railway.

Madrid–Barcelona (- Figueres) high-speed rail line
AVE Class 103 (Siemens Velaro) near Vinaixa
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerAdif
LocaleSpain (Community of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha,
Aragon, Catalonia)
Termini
Service
TypeHigh-speed rail
Operator(s)Renfe Operadora, SNCF (Ouigo), Trenitalia (Iryo)
Rolling stockAVE Class 103, 100, and 112
Ridership4.4 million (2019)[1]
History
Opened2008 (first section in 2003)
Technical
Line length620.9 km (385.8 mi) (as far as Barcelona)
748.9 km (465.3 mi) (as far as Figueres)
Number of tracksDouble track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz
Operating speed
  • 300 km/h (190 mph)
  • 2011 to 2016:
  • 310 km/h (195 mph)[2]
Route map

Legend
km
0.0
 Madrid Atocha Renfe Ouigo España
Madrid-Sevilla high-speed rail line
to Seville–Santa Justa
24.7
Jarama (2,236 m)
64.4
 Guadalajara–Yebes Renfe
116.0
Las Inviernas
182.7
Ariza AV
221.1
 Calatayud Renfe
Paracuelos (4,763 m)
272.9
to Plasencia de Jalón
294.9
Moncasí Junction
306.7
 Zaragoza–Delicias Renfe Ouigo España
311.7
315.8
Canal Imperial
 Tardienta Renfe
Huesca Renfe
356.5
 Bujaraloz
396.8
 Ballobar
403.7
Cinca (870 m)
434.6
Les Torres de Sanuí
442.1
 Lleida Pirineus Renfe
452.5
to Lleida
448.6
Artesa
452.5
to Segrià
(former gauge conversion)
456.6
Las Borjas
488.9
 La Espluga
509.3
L'Alcover
512.8
Mediterranean Corridor
to Valencia
520.9
 Camp de Tarragona Renfe Ouigo España
534.7
Montornès
549.3
La Gornal
552.7
 Arbós
565.9
 Villafranca del Panadés
579.6
Gelida
Martorell
Llobregat
Castellbisbal
Barcelona avoiding line
Llobregat (Pallejá)
595.8
San Vicente dels Horts
Llobregat (San Juan Despí)
610.4
Llobregat (San Baudilio)
Barcelona–Vilanova line
 El Prat
Río Llobregat
to Can Tunis
Provença Tunnel,
Sants–La Sagrera
620.9
 Barcelona Sants Renfe Ouigo España TGV inOui
Perpignan–Barcelona
high-speed rail line
 
Barcelona Sagrera
Barcelona avoiding line
 Montmeló
662.1
Llinars crossover
678.1
Riells
703.5
Viloví de Oñar
714.7
 Girona Renfe TGV inOui
Vilademuls crossover
Barcelona–Cerbère railway
(conventional line)
748.9
 Figueres–Vilafant Renfe TGV inOui
752.4
International section
Spain
France
border
to Perpignan and TGV network
This diagram:

The Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line is a 621-kilometre (385.9 mi) standard gauge railway line inaugurated on 20 February 2008. Designed for speeds of 350 km/h (217.5 mph) and compatibility with neighbouring countries' rail systems, it connects the cities of Madrid and Barcelona in 2 hours 30 minutes. In Barcelona the line is connected with the Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line leading into France which connects it to the European high speed network.

Trains are operated by the national railway Renfe under the AVE and Avlo brands, and by private competitors Ouigo España and Iryo.

First stages

[edit]

In 2003 construction of the first phase of a new standard gauge line from Madrid to the French border (Madrid–Zaragoza–Lleida) was completed and on 11 October of that year commercial service began. This service also stopped at Guadalajara–Yebes and Calatayud. The service began running at only 200 km/h (124.3 mph). On 19 May 2006, after two years of operation, speed was increased to 250 km/h (155.3 mph) when the Spanish ASFA signalling system was replaced with level 1 of the new European ETCS/ERTMS system. On 16 October 2006 the trains on this line increased their operating speed to 280 km/h (174.0 mph).

On 18 December 2006 the AVE started operating to Camp de Tarragona, and on 7 May 2007 the service increased its speed to the maximum allowable for the line, 300 km/h (186.4 mph). This puts Tarragona at 30 minutes from Lleida. The extension to Barcelona was delayed various times due to technical problems; the Ministerio de Fomento having originally forecast the AVE's arrival in Barcelona by the end of 2007.[3]

Complete operation

[edit]

The complete line was opened February 2008. As of 2012, seventeen trains now run every day between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm, covering the distance between the two cities in just 2 hours 30 minutes for the direct trains, and in 3 hours and 10 minutes for those calling at all intermediate stations. Before the high-speed line was built, the journey between the two cities took more than six hours.

Madrid-Barcelona-Figueres line in red

Speed

[edit]
Maximum speed profile of the "Madrid-Barcelona-French Border" line, in 2015.

It was originally forecast that, after reaching Barcelona in 2004, the line would run at 350 km/h (217.5 mph), the maximum capable speed of the new Siemens AVE trains S103 which have replaced the Talgo Bombardier AVE S102, after the installation of level 2 of the ETCS/ERTMS. But on the AVE's first day of operating at 300 km/h (186.4 mph) to Tarragona the Minister of Public Works, Magdalena Álvarez, stated that the maximum commercial operating speeds of the AVE on all lines would be 300 km/h (186.4 mph).[4]

On 11 December 2011, the speed was raised to 310 km/h (192.6 mph) on a 60 km (37.3 mi) section of the railway (between km 64.4, near Guadalajara, and km 124.4), with plans to further increase the speed to 320 km/h (198.8 mph) on a 24 km (14.9 mi) sub-section (from km 81.0 to km 105.24) and plans to rapidly extend the 310 km/h (192.6 mph) speed throughout the Spanish high-speed network.[5][2][6][7] Nevertheless, after almost 5 years of operation with S103 trains running at up to 310 km/h (192.6 mph) on this section, the speed was decreased back to 300 km/h (186.4 mph) on 17 August 2016.[2] The tests performed by ADIF had revealed that, at speeds exceeding 300 km/h (186.4 mph), the air which the trains were moving underneath was causing some stones of the ballast to rise, hitting the trains and causing damage of various kinds (the Spanish high-speed railways follow the French high-speed rail model of laying the rails on a bed of stones known as ballast, instead of laying the tracks on concrete plates, as is done for high-speed rail in Germany).[8] Due to this technical limitation and the substantial increase in costs and power necessary to break the 300 km/h (186.4 mph) barrier, the AVE in Spain abandoned prospects of operating at speeds over 300 km/h (186.4 mph) in the short or medium term.[8]

Usage

[edit]

It was forecast that the AVE would substantially replace air traffic on the Barcelona – Madrid route (in the same way that the Eurostar has on the London-Paris/London-Brussels routes and France's TGV has on the Paris-Lyon route). Indeed, by the end of 2017, the line had already taken 63% of the traffic, taking most of it from aircraft.[9] A few years before the Madrid-Barcelona route was the world's busiest passenger air route in 2007 with 971 scheduled flights per week (both directions).[10] Similarly more than 80% of travelers between Madrid and Seville use the AVE, with fewer than 20% traveling by air.[11]

Criticism

[edit]

There was criticism during the construction of the Madrid-Barcelona line. A critical report by the consulting firm KPMG, commissioned by ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias) at the behest of the Ministry for Public Works (Ministerio de Fomento) on 23 June 2004, pointed to a lack of in-depth studies and over-hasty execution of works as the most important reasons for the problems that dogged construction of the AVE line. For example, during the construction of the AVE tunnel near Barcelona, a number of nearby buildings suffered damage from a sinkhole that appeared near a commuter rail station, damaging one of its platforms. The construction committee of Barcelona's famed Sagrada Familia church lobbied for a re-routing of the tunnel – it passes within metres of the massive church's foundations. It also passes equally near the UNESCO-recognized Casa Milà also designed by Antoni Gaudí.

Furthermore, until 2005 both Siemens and Talgo/Bombardier train sets failed to meet scheduled speed targets, although in a test run during the homologation tests of the new S102 trains of RENFE, a train-set Talgo 350 (AVE S-102) reached a speed of 365 km/h (226.8 mph) on the night of the 25/26 June 2006, and in July 2006 a Siemens Velaro train-set (AVE S-103) reached the highest top speed ever in Spain: 403.7 km/h (250.8 mph). At this time, it was a record for railed vehicles in Spain and a world record for unmodified commercial service trainsets, as the earlier TGV and ICE records were achieved with specially modified and shortened trainsets, and the 1996 Shinkansen record of 443 km/h (275.3 mph) was using a test (non-commercial) trainset.

Planned services in 2012
At Paracuellos de la Ribera
Overview map of the high-speed connections from Barcelona towards France, with the year of opening

Extension to France

[edit]
Main article: Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line

Barcelona to Figueres

[edit]

Originally planned to open in 2009, the extension of some Madrid-Barcelona routes to Figueres–Vilafant railway station via Girona, opened on 9 January 2013.[12] This made possible upon the completion of the 131-kilometre (81.4 mi) Barcelona-Figueres section of the Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line that connected for the first time the Spanish AVE high-speed network with the French TGV high-speed network.[13] There have been delays in building a four kilometre tunnel in Girona, the first phase of which was finished in September 2010,[14] and controversy over the route between Sants and Sagrera stations in Barcelona.[15] As of January 2013 there are eight trains a day running from Madrid, connecting at Figueres Vilafant with two TGV services to Paris.[16]

Figueres to Perpignan

[edit]

This is an international high speed rail section between France and Spain. The section connects two cities on opposite sides of the border, Perpignan in Occitanie, France, and Figueres in Catalonia, Spain. It consists of a 44.4-kilometre (27.6 mi) railway which crosses the French–Spanish border via the Perthus Tunnel, an 8.3-kilometre (5.2 mi) tunnel bored under the Perthus Pass.[17] The section is open to high speed trains and freight. Construction was completed in February 2009, although services did not run until a station was built on the line at Figueres. As of March 2015, a daily TGV service connects Paris to Barcelona Sants via Perpignan-Figueres with 2 pairs of trips, plus other connections involving Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse.[18]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "AVE Barcelona-Madrid cumple 12 años acumulando más de 40 millones de viajeros". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 February 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Velocidades máximas de los trenes y de las líneas" (maximum speeds of the trains and of the lines), last updated on 10 December 2022, accessed on 27 April 2023.
  3. ^ "La Vanguardia, 18 December 2006". Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  4. ^ La Vanguardia, 7 May 2007
  5. ^ "310 km/h: velocidad máxima de circulación en España" (310 km/h: maximum circulation speed in Spain), ViaLibre, 13 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Renfe y Adif pondrán el AVE a 310 km/h en toda la red antes del verano de 2012" (Renfe and ADIF will set the AVE at 310 km/h in the whole network before the summer 2012), Cinco Dias (El Pais), 23 November 2011.
  7. ^ Madrid – Barcelona at 310 km/h with ETCS Level 2
  8. ^ a b "El futuro del tren en Léon. El Ave necesita seis meses para llegar a 300 kilómetros por hora" (The future of train in Leon. The AVE needs 6 months to arrive at 300 km/h), 27 September 2015, leonoticias.
  9. ^ Barcelona-Madrid high-speed line has had more than 85 million passengers 21 February 2018
  10. ^ Air passenger transport in Europe in 2007
  11. ^ Juan Carlos Martín and Gustavo Nombela, "Microeconomic impacts of investments in high speed trains in Spain", Annals of Regional Science, vol. 41, no. 3, September 2007
  12. ^ Madrid-Barcelona-French Border line on the ADIF website.
  13. ^ "Spain completes Iberia's high-speed link to Europe". International Railway Journal. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Railway Gazette: Girona tunnelling makes progress". Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  15. ^ "Perpignan-Barcelona AVE to open in 2012 or .... 2020?". Today's railways Europe, Issue 140. August 2007. p. 10.
  16. ^ "Barcelona - Figueres high speed rail line to open on January 7". International Rail Journal. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Perpignan-Figueras High-speed Rail Line". Structurae. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  18. ^ "Spain—closer than ever before". SNCF. Retrieved 3 March 2015.

Further reading

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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line (Adif line 050).

41°36′34″N 0°13′15″E / 41.6094°N 0.2207°E / 41.6094; 0.2207

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