Friday, February 15, 2008

The train is here

16 years after arriving in Sevilla, a beautiful town of no economic importance whatseover (but home of the ruling prime minister) ...

two months after the last promised 'drop dead' date, the attempt to meet which caused massive problems to the local rail network ...

Barcelona gets its AVE high speed rail link to Madrid. 

The delays and maladministration have probably done more to fire Catalan self-government than any heady political movement could.  When national development minister Magdalena Alvarez swept into town last week to announce the launch date, she was greeted like Typhoid Mary by the Catalan administration who failed to send anyone to meet her at the station. 

But it does look impressive. 

From next Wednesday it  will be as quick as 2h 38m to cover the 400 miles to the capital. The Landers will be on board on 16 March for a planned visit there having snapped up a set of tickets at 42 euros each way. 

Not bad when you think that you get 50% back if you are 15 mins late and the whole lot back after a 30 minute delay.

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