Spain to cut Barcelona-Madrid high-speed train journey to 'under two hours'

The Spanish government plans to cut AVE high-speed rail travel between Barcelona and Madrid to under two hours, transport minister Óscar Puente announced on Monday.

Upgrades will begin on the Barcelona-Madrid line as part of a wider investment program aimed at increasing train speeds to 350 km/h.

"We are going on the offensive with high-speed rail. Our goal is 350 km/h, and we will be the second country in the world to reach this speed, after China," Puente said during an Europa Press 'Informative Breakfast.'

"We have a high-speed network that currently runs at a maximum of 300 km/h, and up to 310 km/h on some stretches, but it's important to take the next step," he explained.

Puente did not provide a breakdown of the investment required, but he noted that the improvement will be achieved through the installation of new aerodynamic rail supports on the high-speed tracks.”

These reduce the aerodynamic load of AVE trains on the tracks by 21%, allowing trains to reach much higher speeds.

"They enable trains to travel up to 12% faster without increasing aerodynamic resistance," Puente said.

The AV350 plan also includes a direct connection from Barcelona to Madrid-Chamartín without passing through Madrid-Atocha, and the construction of a new AVE station in Parla, south of Madrid, so that passengers traveling between Andalusia and Catalonia can change trains there without entering the Spanish capital.