Greenwire: A high-speed train between Barcelona and Madrid is steadily rising in popularity, with the number of train travelers surpassing those going by air earlier this year.
The Alta Velocidad Española cuts the route between the two cities from a 6-hour car ride down to 2 hours and 38 minutes.
While the train is praised for being more eco-friendly than planes or cars — analysts say the emissions are about one-fourth of other transportation methods — most passengers are simply opting for the train because it is more comfortable and convenient. The tickets cost as much as air travel — about $160 to $300 — but the train has reclining seats, computer outlets, movies and food. It is part of an effort to make the train seem upscale and appealing to riders.
“Since the day this train opened, I have never, never set foot on the plane again,” said Carlos Martínez, a lawyer who travels between Madrid and Barcelona twice a week. “Why would anyone fly?”
Other European countries, including France and Germany, have gone to high-speed rail service and many predict that European routes will soon be dominated by trains. The number of flights between Madrid and Málaga, another AVE route, has already dropped by half since the trains opened. All AVE lines have earned a profit, even as airlines seek to cut prices to compete (Elisabeth Rosenthal, New York Times, March 15). – JP