Spanish High Velocity, known as AVE, stands as a symbol of the Spanish travel brand, marking three decades of renewal and leadership in new mobility through its sustainable model.
Yet AVE also faces ongoing challenges, including irregular expansion and the burden of high road costs across the country and the varied accessibility of services for many citizens.
Key figures in its development and sale point to the need for a more diverse and inclusive railway network, suggesting that the forthcoming system should broaden its reach beyond a single core corridor.
The Madrid to Seville line began commercial operation in February 1992, aligning with the world’s fair in Seville and becoming a pillar for Spain’s international economic outreach.
Alicante University historian and specialist in economic institutions noted that the railway gained momentum in 1986 with modernization plans and deeper ties to the European Economic Community, a view shared by EFE in an interview with Javier Vidal.
Renfe president Isaías Táboas described the growth in average commercial speed as a tangible outcome of AVE’s evolving value, underscoring its pivotal role in Spain’s public transport market.
Since 1992, the AVE network has expanded to connect 67 cities across Spain, spanning more than 3,000 kilometers through 13 high-speed lines.
Raquel Sánchez, Spain’s Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, recalled that the journey began with fewer than 20 trains in five cities and celebrated the substantial quantitative and qualitative leap of high-speed rail over the past three decades.
Wider network and reduced radial focus
Nonetheless, several autonomous communities, including Asturias, the Basque Country, and Extremadura, remain outside a fully integrated network. Expert Javier Vidal has criticized the traditional network’s overemphasis on main routes.
ADIF president Maria Luisa Domínguez explained that by the end of 2021, 11.5 billion euros had been invested, with another 12 billion euros planned by 2025, aimed at enhancing the connections among Madrid’s stations, including Atocha and Chamartín, and linking the north and south of the network. Projects include the line from Venta de Baños to Burgos and the extension of high-speed services to Murcia.
The first phase of AVE access to Extremadura is set to proceed in coming years, opening new operations and improving delayed sections. A route from Asturias toward the central plateau is anticipated as part of the plan.
Spain’s rail strategy emphasizes speeding up high-speed and corridor development along the Mediterranean and Atlantic routes, while also prioritizing access to logistics hubs and ports.
Democratizing transport
The liberalization of passenger transport and the entry of operators like French Ouigo, a SNCF subsidiary, and Ilsa—which will connect Madrid with the Levante and Barcelona with Iryo trains in the near future—aim to create a more competitive and affordable high-speed network, according to Sánchez.
New operators will be invited to submit bids for public transport services, offering travelers a sustainable alternative to private vehicles and encouraging a shift toward the most efficient use of rail infrastructure, the minister noted.
The government stressed that these new players will help optimize high-speed usage and infrastructure utilization.
With electricity costs rising, energy liberalization could influence ticket prices. If cost shifts are passed on to customers, tickets could rise by up to 30–40 percent, explained Hélène Valenzuela, Ouigo’s managing director in Spain, in an interview with EFE.
Renfe’s low-cost high-speed service AVLO, launched recently in June, delivered strong early results on the Madrid-Barcelona-Figueres route, tripling high-speed passenger numbers compared with the previous year and reaching about three million travelers in the first semester of operation.
Comprehensive mobility
ADIF highlights intermodality as the future of the network, aiming to connect trains with intercity buses, commuter trains, metro systems, taxis, and even specialized vehicles. The goal is a seamless travel experience across modes, as explained by the network’s leadership.
Renfe continues to pursue international growth, innovation, and digitalization while maintaining a commitment to delivering broad mobility services that are smart and sustainable. The company envisions bringing high-speed travel closer to new regions and expanding the user base by offering flexible commercial options tailored to diverse travelers.
Officials reaffirm that the government intends to keep high-speed rail evolving, with a focus on sustainability and the trans-European transport network. Investments of 6.2 billion euros from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan will help mobilize European funds to offset pandemic impacts.
The overarching goal is to ensure future generations benefit from the expansive rail network and to make travel by train an appealing, practical choice for everyday mobility, a statement attributed to the transport leadership.