:This article is about the train. See also Advanced Vehicle Engineers, a short-lived aviation company
AVE, short for Alta Velocidad Española (literally, "Spanish High Speed" but also "bird" in Spanish) is a high speed train that can achieve speeds of up to 300 km/h on dedicated track. Three different corporations have made or will make train sets to run on the high-speed network: Spanish firm Talgo, French firm Alstom (makers of the TGV), and German firm Siemens which makes the ICE high speed trainsets for Germany.
Unlike the rest of the Spanish broad-gauge network, the AVE uses European standard gauge, permitting direct connections outside Spain in the future. All AVE trains are operated by RENFE (Spanish State Railways). Under consideration, however, is the possibility of granting private companies the right to run several lines which are under construction or in the planning process.
1 History and extensions
The AVE started running between Madrid and Seville on 21 April 1992, a distance of 471 km. Construction of a high-speed line connecting Madrid and BarcelonaCoat of arms of Barcelona Flag of Barcelona Barcelona within Barcelones Population ( 2003)1,582,738 Area100'4 Km2 Population density ( 2001)15,764/Km2 Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous region in northeastern Spain (41º 23' N, 2º 11' E). is under way, with the first section from Madrid to LleidaLleida ( Catalan: Lleida Spanish: Lerida is a city located in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name, and has 115,000 inhabitants (2002). Its main industries are agriculture and tourism. The Catalan govern having opened on 11 October 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U and inauguration of the remainder currently planned for 20072007 is a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). Predicted Events January 1 Target date for the admission of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union. March 1 USS Baltimore to be deactivated. March 19 Partial solar eclipse June NASA's M (present forecasts are that it will reach TarragonaTarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name. As of the 2003 census, the city had a population of 121,076, and the population of the entire urban area wa by 20062006 is a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). It has been designated: The International Year of Deserts and Desertification Predicted events January 9 Planned launch date of New Horizons February 28 Mardi Gras February 9 Independence r). When completed, the Madrid-Barcelona line will be the world's fastest in commercial operation with trains reaching a top speed of 350 km/h and covering the 600 km between the two cities in just 2.5 hours.
Construction of a segment to ValladolidThis article deals with the Spanish city. For the one in Yucatan, Mexico, see: Valladolid, Yucatan Valladolid is an industrial city in central Spain, upon the Rio Pisuerga. It is the capital of the province of Valladolid and of the autonomous community of has started, and there are firm plans for extending the system to Valencia and Alicante, and eventually to interconnect with the French TGV network as well. The Spanish government has an ambitious plan to have 7000 km of high-speed rail operational by the end of the decade. The overall goal is to have all provincial capitals at most only four hours away from Madrid, and 6 hours 30 minutes from Barcelona.
