Transportation
France’s Next High-Speed Trains Could Be Run by Spain
Spain’s national rail operator has quietly become a leader in Europe. Now it wants to compete with its neighbor to the north.
Even an avid rail enthusiast could be forgiven for not noticing the meteoric rise of Spain’s AVE high-speed rail network.
Starting only in 1992, Spain’s super-fast train service grew slowly compared to other European networks, and its reputation has lagged far behind international superstars like Japan’s Shinkansen and France’s TGV. Now, however, its days as a straggler are coming to an end.