AVE’s arrival in Burgos this Thursday marks a milestone as the high-speed line aims to stitch Spain from north to south and reach the French border. The project strengthens the country’s rail network and signals a bold step in national mobility.
The King presided over the inaugural AVE route to Burgos, conducting the ceremony alongside Head of Government Pedro Sánchez. The journey runs from Madrid Chamartín to Burgos, with a stop in Valladolid to allow Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, president of Castilla y León, to join the delegation.
On the stretch between the Castile and León capital and Burgos, the King and the accompanying officials discussed the progress and current state of the fires in Castilla y León. The regional leader expressed solidarity with the Crown and the national government as they assessed the situation and coordinated support for those affected.
The Rosa Manzano station in Burgos hosted the formal proceedings, attracting numerous local and regional authorities. Sánchez described the event as another milestone in the ongoing success story of Spain’s high-speed rail. He highlighted how sustainable mobility continues to place the country at the forefront of global rail leadership.
King analyzes the evolution of forest fires in Castilla y León with Sánchez and Mañueco
Thus, the King noted that Spain stands as the leading European nation and the second in the world, after China, in high-speed rail. He called this achievement a “giant transformation” accomplished in roughly three decades since the Madrid-Seville line opened.
During this period, the rail network expanded dramatically, with the kilometers of high-speed lines increasing nearly eightfold to reach around 4,000. This expansion was supported by an investment exceeding 57 billion euros, underscoring a lasting impact on the country’s infrastructure and regional development.
The King emphasized that these advancements have reshaped the land and, in turn, permanently transformed the cities the system passes through. Sánchez also stressed Burgos’s pivotal role in the next phase of high-speed deployment, enabling an end-to-end connection from south to north.
He added that Burgos will serve as a key gateway, opening a direct route to connect one of the most developed rail networks in the world with the Basque Country and, ultimately, the French border—a long-standing objective edging closer to reality. He also recalled that the Council of Ministers approved the bidding for projects along the Burgos–Vitoria corridor with an estimated budget of 27 million euros.
Projections indicate the Burgos–Vitoria journey may take longer than expected, with Madrid to the Basque capital remaining just over two hours. The plan includes future implementation of the Basque Country divisions referred to as the “Y” connections, with procedures already underway.
In this context, protocols signed in February pave the way for a temporary AVE arrival to Basauri, and a future visit to the Abando station in Bilbao is anticipated. While the Thursday opening holds significance for Burgos, it is framed as part of a national project that ties the country together.
In addition to shaving travel times, the government highlighted the expected gains: Madrid to Burgos travel time could drop to about one hour and thirty-three minutes, while the weekly frequency of trains is expected to rise substantially from 15 to 32 services. The safety of the line was emphasized, with speeds reaching up to 350 kilometers per hour.
The newly opened section, which will generally operate from Friday, connects Venta de Baños in Palencia with a route passing Burgos with a total length of about 86 kilometers. The promotion centers on a major investment, cited as 760 million euros by the Transport Minister, Raquel Sánchez, who underscored the contribution this opening makes to social cohesion and regional integration across the country.
“It is a country project that makes us all more competitive,” noted officials. Additionally, travelers holding an AVE season ticket to Burgos will benefit from a 50 percent discount under anti-crisis measures announced for the period from September 1 to December 31.
The Castilla y León president, joining the remarks on the evolution of fires in his region to illustrate community resilience, highlighted the broad benefits AVE brings to Burgos and the country as a whole. With a history of delays and disruptions, the line now promises to cut Madrid–Burgos travel time by about 45 minutes.
To celebrate the milestone, Renfe launched a promotional campaign offering 100,000 tickets from 18 euros for basic fares and 22 euros for comfort fare on AVE and Alvia services between Madrid and Burgos, and extending toward the Basque Country along the route, regardless of departure or destination points.