AVE Trains in Spain
Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) are high-speed trains operating at speeds of up to 300 km/h on dedicated tracks in Spain. The name is literally translated as "Spanish High Speed", but is also a play on the word ave, meaning "bird".
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 under consideration include connecting Soria to the Madrid-Barcelona line at Calatayud. 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 Sagreda.
The Spanish government has an ambitious plan to make 7,000 kilometres of high-speed railway operational by 2010, with all provincial capitals at most only 4 hours from Madrid, and 6½ hours from Barcelona. This is a ten year plan ending in 2020, and would provide the most extensive network in Europe, with several operational links with France and Portugal.
Malaga Train Services
The new AVE high speed train has been of great benefit to those located on the Costa del Sol with rail travel time from Malaga to Madrid taking around 2 hours 45 minutes, with eleven trains daily and two additional services on Friday. Adult turista tickets are around €86, but discounts of up to 60% can be obtained if purchased at least 15 days beforehand
There is a daily high-speed rail line linking Málaga City with Barcelona in five hours and forty-five minutes, with trains departing from Málaga City at 08:20 16:50. Standard class (turista) adult tickets are around €140 (online fare). The train stops at Málaga María Zambrano - Antequera Santa Ana - Puente Genil Herrera - Córdoba Central - Zaragoza Delicias - Camp de Tarragona - Barcelona Sants. Discounts are available for advance and online booking. .
To make an booking online go to the Renfe website www.renfe.co
Maria Zambrano Station in Malaga
The relatively new Maria Zambrano Railway Station in Malaga City is five times larger than the old station and houses a new four star hotel with 222 rooms, a shopping mall with more than 100 retail outlets, cinema and leisure centre which is open 7 days a week throughout the year.
The original 5 railway lines have been increased to 8 and there are regular buses (lines 10, 151 and 12), trains and taxi links as well as parking for 1,550 cars. The bus station is right opposite the railway station.
For more information on the Maria Zambrano Station and the shops, bars and restaurants in the Vialia Shopping Centre based there click on the links.
Madrid Train Services
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 including:
| Huelva (3 h 45 min) |
| Cadiz (4h 30 min) |
| Algeciras (5h 25 min) |
| Granada (4h 36 min) |
| Pamplona (2h 59 min) |
| Logrono (3h 40 min) |
| Irun (5h 19 min) |
| Bilbao (4h 46 min) |
| San Sebastian (5h 20 min) |
| Santander (4 h 25 min) |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz (3 h 48 min) |
