AVE

The AVE [ aβe ] (Spanish Alta Velocidad Española [ alta βeloθiðað espaɲola ], Spanish high speed ') is the brand name of the Spanish railway company Renfe for the high-speed network in Spain.

The end of 2012 the AVE network reached a total length of 2665 km, making it the longest high-speed rail network in Europe and the second longest in the world after China.

2.1 Series 100
2.2 Series 102
2.3 The Class 103
2.4 112 series

5.1 Notes and references

History

The Expo 1992 in Seville was the reason for Spain's entry into the high-speed traffic on rails. The Spanish railway company Renfe wanted a quick access to the capital Madrid to the Expo Seville. The old line about Linares -Baeza was single track 574 km long and in large parts, the fastest connection required nearly six hours. Just in time for the Expo was the Renfe take the high-speed line Madrid- Seville on April 19, 1992 operation. She was the first Spanish railway highway, which, in European standard gauge instead - was built in Iberian broad gauge, - as usual in Spain until then. The quick route is shorter by 471 kilometers over the previous hundred kilometers. Trains without stop along the drive that distance in 2 hours 15 minutes.

José Maria Aznar, Spanish Prime Minister ( Partido Popular May 1995 - March 2004) announced in 2000 to connect all 47 provincial capitals of the country to the AVE network. His successor, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE, 2004 - December 2011) put one better: he demanded that no Spaniard should continue to live as half an hour from a stop for express trains.

In 2002 went as a second branch of the new Madrid -Barcelona, initially only to Zaragoza and from 2008 up to the Catalan capital in operation. The 625 km between the two largest cities in Spain to be covered in just two hours and thirty minutes. The trains currently run at a top speed of 310 km / h but may in the future up to 350 km / h ( depending on the material ). The Director General of Iberia announced to use smaller aircraft from the opening of the rail link between Madrid and Barcelona.

In December 2007, went as the third branch of Madrid, the new Madrid - Valladolid and in the south section of Antequera -Málaga, the last remaining of the Córdoba -Málaga high-speed line in operation.

Since 2005 is the continuation of the second corridor Barcelona-Figueres-Perpignan/Perpinyà (F) under construction, including an eight -kilometer-long tunnel in Le Perthus. First, the northern stretch Figueras-Perpignan/Perpinyà went to several delays in operation in December 2010, which the Spanish standard gauge were initially connected by the insertion of a third rail in main track Barcelona - Figueras with the European network. The final gap closure took place on 7 January 2013. A high-speed line between Perpignan and Montpellier, which can be interfaced to the French high -speed rail network will not be completed before 2020.

On the same day as the opening of cross-border route in Catalonia was also the fourth emanating from Madrid route, on the Mediterranean coast, opened in the first construction phase. The 438 km long route linking the Spanish capital with Valencia and with Albacete. The travel time on the 391 km between Madrid and the third largest city in the country, Valencia, reduced from just under four hours to 95 minutes. On 18 June 2013, the 171.5 km long section of Albacete was opened to the Mediterranean city of Alicante. The driving time from Madrid to Alicante thus reduced to the time being two hours and twenty minutes. The third provincial capital of the Valencian Community, Castellón, is to be connected by 2015 to the high-speed line. The trains run at 300 km / h, but can be up to 350 km / h in the future.

In June, 2013, after the opening of the 171 km long section Albacete- Alicante on the high-speed line Madrid -Levante, the Spanish high-speed network reached a total length of 2447 km (as of November 1, 2013: 2515 km ). This one is in Europe in the first place before France and Germany 2036 km 1334 km. In addition, there are 1308 km and 1702 km in construction planning.

In 1997, the AVE system generated a profit for the first time (about two million U.S. dollars).

After the bursting of its property bubble in Spain began a recession that continues to this day ( 2013). Spain can no longer as easy as it used to increase its sovereign debt; since 2009 ( the start of the euro crisis ) was also announced that Spain's banks are in a crisis. Spain has received, among other SEM 2012 from 100 billion euros. The AVE high- ticket prices are high; the demand for these relatively expensive trips is low. Thus, the Madrid- Valencia, which went into operation in 2010, planned for 3.6 million travelers a year. In the first year the number of passengers stood at only 50 percent. The European Commission has asked the Spanish Government in May 2013, when the AVE on the cost -benefit ratio must be observed ( " The Spanish reform package in 2013 contains some contradictory targets in transport policy. Example, the operating costs are to be reduced, and at the same time, new high-speed lines to be built ").

In February 2013, a new pricing system was introduced, which is more in line with demand. Case, the average fare fell in the " Turista " class by 27.5 %. Similarly, a " customer loyalty card" for young travelers was introduced with 30% discount. The mobile ticket was introduced and the use of the booking via the Internet increased considerably. The market oriented tariffs led to an increase in passenger numbers by 23.5 %, the train utilization increased from 65 % to 73 %. Dei absolute passenger numbers rose from 12 to 14.9 million passengers in February 2014

So far, not yet connected are, inter alia, the other major Spanish cities of Almeria, Badajoz, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Gijon, Granada, Logroño, Murcia, Oviedo, Pamplona, Santander, Vigo, Vitoria- Gasteiz.

Rolling stock

Series 100

As the first high-speed trains, the units of the 100 series sailed the route network. The Renfe decided in favor of the purchase of 18 trains a further development of the TGV Atlantique as a vehicle for the first standard gauge rail line in Spain. Novelty, in this context: The ATP system, as well as the overall management bought the Spaniards in German suppliers, so that the AVE, a TGV derivative, with the German Linienzugbeeinflussung ( LZB ) is provided. Originally 24 sets had been ordered, but they decided to play, six of them to be used as the 101 series, under the brand name Euromed, on the broad gauge network. As of 2010, the trains of the 101 series, however, were converted to standard gauge and incorporated into the 100 series. In February 2011, RENFE was known to have rebuilt ten units of class for traffic to and from France.

Number: 24
Maximum speed: 300 km / h

Series 102

Renfe needed new high-speed trains for the new Madrid -Barcelona- French border. Ultimately, it was decided, inter alia, for the purchase of 16 sets developed by the Spanish Talgo in collaboration with Bombardier Talgo 350 Because of their characteristic front end of these trains also " Pato " ( Duck German ) are colloquially called.

Number: 16
Maximum speed: 330 km / h

Class 103

As part of the tender for the second generation of the AVE Renfe procured in addition to the 102 series of Talgo also 26 high-speed trains from Siemens. It is a further development of the ICE 3, which is marketed by Siemens Velaro internationally and at the Renfe Identification Series received 103. On July 16, 2006, one of these trains at 403.7 km / h speed record in the Spanish railway network. He was the fastest series-production of the world, for it was neither a prototype nor were alterations made.

Number: 26 (1st series 16, 2nd series 10)
Maximum speed: 350 km / h

112 series

For the various under-construction high-speed lines in 2004 a further 30 trainsets were similarly ordered the series 102. The power heads are the same, but the train has, compared with the first series more seats on.

Number: 30
Maximum speed: 330 km / h

More Brands

Besides AVE for long distances on standard gauge with speed limits over 250 km / h RENFE markets its high -speed services under various other brand names:

Alaris for high -speed trains on the Iberian broad gauge on the Madrid -Valencia - Castellón.
Alvia for trains with adjustable track width for Iberian and UIC standard gauge.
Avant for medium distances (up to 90 minutes) is also standard gauge with maximum speeds up to 250 km / h on the basis of the Pendolino
Euromed for high -speed trains on the Iberian broad gauge on the route Barcelona -Valencia -Alicante Castellón.

China Railway High-speed Real estate bubble Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha Toledo, Spain Cuenca, Spain Santander, Spain International Union of Railways

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