Spanish Government inaugurated High Speed Railway (H.S.R.) between Barcelona and French Border.

On Tuesday 8th of January 2013, National Government inaugurated the longed connection with France. This route crosses Girona, what means that Catalonia is the first Region in Spain with its four capital cities connected by High Speed Train (H.S.T.).

From left to right: National President Mariano Rajoy, Prince of Spain, Catalonia Regional President Artur Mas, Minister of Transport Ana Pastor (http://www.cincodias.com)

The first Spanish Peninsular railway was constructed between Barcelona and Mataró in 1848, with a length of 28,6 km. Spain built railways with Iberian gauge (1,668 mm) instead Standard gauge (1,435 mm) with obvious problems to export goods to France and Northern Europe.

In 1992 was inaugurated the first High Speed Railway (H.S.R.) between Madrid and Sevilla. This new H.S.R. was built with International gauge. Nowadays a passenger can take a High Speed Train from Seville to the French Border crossing Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza, or from Valencia to Valladolid. With this new length of the track, there are 3000 km of H.S.R. in Spain connecting 16 million people.

Spanish High Speed Railways. January 2013 (Modification from http://www.adif.es).

  

More info:

http://www.cincodias.com/articulo/empresas/aprovecha-inauguracion-ave-francia-pedir-inversion-cataluna/20130108cdscdsemp_8/

http://www.adif.es/es_ES/comunicacion_y_prensa/fichas_de_actualidad/ficha_actualidad_00059.shtml