Expatica news

“Better late than never” Barcelona AVE link sees date at end of tunnel

13 February 2008

MADRID – After months of speculation and postponement, Public Works Minister Magdalena Álvarez announced yesterday that 20 February will be the official date that the AVE high-speed train linking Madrid and Barcelona will be open to the public.

The highly controversial Madrid-Barcelona connection will be opening two months later than the Ministry’s initial date of 21 December, due to construction problems along the last five kilometres of track in Barcelona.

The AVE construction mishaps also caused Barcelona’s local train system to suffer months of breakdowns and delays, which, in late-December culminated in massive street-protests in the Catalan capital, as well as a heated special congressional session which saw Álvarez narrowly escape being voted out of her job.

The Consumers’ Organisation (OCU) issued a statement yesterday calling the projected run date "better late than never."

[Copyright EL PAÍS / KELLY RAMUNDO 2008]

Subject: Spanish news