HIGH-SPEED ON THE MED

Spanish National Railways (Renfe) has already posted impressive figures for its high speed rail service linking Madrid and Seville. In June 1997, the company attempted to repeat that success on the highly competitive Mediterranean corridor, the 523 km (325 mi) coastal line that serves an area which generates 40% of Spain's GDP and attracts 40% of all national investment. Additionally, people living in the catchment area served by the line command incomes 13% higher than the national average. Some of the ways Renfe has tried to improve the existing rail service include: implementing a rolling program on infrastructure upgrades to raise line speeds to a maximum of 200-220 km/h (124-135 mi/h); cutting travel times; and improving on board service.