A fleet of new super-speed trains being delivered to Spain's RENFE may shake up rail service in France and Portugal as well, once they enter service in November.
The Talgo Avril trains combine a 380 kilometer per hour speed with the ability to shift between Portugal's slightly wider track gauge and the one used by European high-speed trains. RENFE has been planning to enter the Portugal market with routes to Lisbon and Porto, using Portugal's only high-speed track between Lisbon and Porto.
The added speed, 60-80 kph faster than France's current TGV services, could also give RENFE an edge in France, since it would allow trains to link Paris and Madrid in just over three hours.
Comments (0)