A new Spanish commuter train delivering passengers from Madrid to Barcelona in just over 2 ½ hours is poised to challenge local airlines as the transportation system of choice among discerning adult travelers. Currently this air route was believed to be one of the world’s busiest commutes and now a new super train may claim the honor of delivering passengers between these two Spanish cities the fastest.



This 660 km trek is Europe’s longest distance and is now being serviced by Spain’s new AVE trains and shaving over a half hour in the process. Spain has recently been bracing to compete with other countries in the world such as Japan in its desire to offer commuters a choice of high speed rail as an alternative to flying.



A report by Thomas Catan in Barcelona, published in The Times, quotes Deputy Prime Minister in Spain as stating, “We have the largest amount of high-speed rail under construction, with five times more than the next country, Japan,” MarÍa Teresa Fernández de la Vega, the Deputy Prime Minister, said. “In just two years’ time, we’ll have the largest number of kilometers in operation.”