SPAIN celebrated the launch of high-speed services between Madrid and Alicante on June 17 with the official opening of the Albacete – Alicante high-speed line by His Highness Prince Felipe of Asturias, Spanish prime minister Mr Mariano Rajoy and transport minister Mrs Ana Pastor.
SPAIN's Ministry of Transport this week reported that ridership on Renfe AVE services has risen 14% year-on-year in the last four months to 4.7 million passengers, following an 11% cut in all tourist class tickets in early February.
THE Spanish government finally confirmed this week that Renfe will start commercial services on the 165km high-speed line from Albacete to Alicante on June 18.
THE council of Velez-Malaga has approved plans to lease three CAF Urbos 2 LRVs, acquired as part of the Spanish town's abandoned light rail project, to Sydney for use on the Metro Light Rail line, which is currently being extended.
MACANDREWS, a subsidiary of shipping group CMA-CGM this week launched a new refrigerated railfreight service linking Bilbao with Murcia in the southeast of Spain.
FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has reached an agreement to buy a 25% stake in Spanish open-access freight operator Comsa Rail Transport (CRT) for an undisclosed sum.
FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) and Renfe have postponed the launch of direct TGV services between Paris and Barcelona due to delays in completing certification of TGV Dasye sets for operation on the Figueres – Barcelona high-speed line.
MADRID Metro announced on April 23 it will rename one of its lines Line 2 Vodafone and the city's most central station Vodafone-Sol after reaching a three-year €3m agreement with the mobile telephone company.
BARCELONA metro operator Barcelona Metropolitan Transport (TMB) has been granted Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) status by Spain's Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which will allow it to carry out railway safety assessments across the EU and beyond.
ZARAGOZA celebrated the opening of the final phase of a 6.9km extension of the city's first light rail line last week after four years of work and an investment of €400m.