Victrola1I have no first hand experience with European rail. I vaguely recall reading Spain's rail system was not all that long ago regarded as antiquated when compared with much of Western Europe. Perhaps this was a reason for choosing Spain as an example for America.Outside of the glamor routes, what slower speed services feed into Spain's high speed system? Was Spain's conventional passenger system improved in concert with high speed? How important is a larger network of conventional passenger service making connections to high speed?
I have no first hand experience with European rail. I vaguely recall reading Spain's rail system was not all that long ago regarded as antiquated when compared with much of Western Europe. Perhaps this was a reason for choosing Spain as an example for America.
Outside of the glamor routes, what slower speed services feed into Spain's high speed system? Was Spain's conventional passenger system improved in concert with high speed? How important is a larger network of conventional passenger service making connections to high speed?
The Spanish are progressing with great speed towards a system linking all significant cities with HSR. In the interim they have used trainsets capable of changing wheel gauge on the move so that conventional network trains of certain types could also use the HSR routes. The change in Spain's passenger network from 20 years ago to today is dramatic. Spain's HSR network is built to standard gauge (1435mm) while the conventional network is 1668mm (about 5' 6").
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