High-speed rail services launch in Spain

Thursday February 21st , 2008

Transport links across Spain have been enhanced with the launch of a new cross-country high-speed rail service.

Passengers can now make the 421-mile trip from Madrid to Barcelona in just two hours and 38 minutes.

This represents a significant improvement to the national transport network and could also help to encourage people based in one particular area to travel further afield.

In addition, this means that airlines which offer passage between the two cities will now face much stiffer competition.

Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was quoted by the Telegraph as saying: "These electric trains will carry as many passengers as 90 planes a day."

He added that using high-speed trains would help to save money and reduce the impact of transport on the environment.

This development may also have an impact on places along the route, as it means that the two cities will be easily accessible from these locations.

As a result, they could more desirable to prospective property buyers, including foreign investors.

According to Holiday-Rentals, Spain is currently one of the most popular locations among overseas investors in the UK.