Spain’s bullet train is beating the plane in the race to win passengers. For the first time, more passengers have chosen to travel on the high-speed AVE rail link between Madrid and Barcelona than have opted to fly — a switch that could influence British ambitions for a high-speed rail network and add impetus to the creation of a second high-speed line in the UK.

Between July and September, 651,498 passengers made the 314-mile journey between Spain’s biggest cities (slightly farther than London to Newcastle), a rise of 21 per cent compared with the same period last year.

In comparison, 643,512 travellers made the journey by aircraft during the same period, a fall of 7.5 per cent compared with the third quarter of last year.

Madrid-Barcelona is the fifth busiest air route in the world, with four airlines offering 116 flights a day, according to the Official Airline Guide in July. Since the rail link opened last year, Renfe, the Spanish state rail operator, and the airlines, led by Iberia, the national flag carrier, have fought a fierce battle to win passengers. The high-speed train, which takes 2hr 40min to travel between Madrid and Barcelona, at 236.3 kilometres per hour (146.8mph), has won over commuters with competitive fares, greater comfort and the absence of elaborate airport security. It also offers promotions to attract tourists, as well as business travellers.

The success of the state-funded AVE may help efforts to build a similar line in Britain. Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, travelled on the AVE between Madrid and Barcelona this year to gauge the success of the line and was impressed, according to Spanish rail sources. It is thought that the Government may enlist Renfe’s help if it decides to extend the high-speed rail network.

The High Speed One line between St Pancras and Ashford (a 30-minute journey at 140mph) opened in June and plans are under way for a second line. High Speed Two, a company charged with assessing possible high-speed routes in the UK, is due to report before the end of the year. It is thought that a line could open between London and the West Midlands by 2025.

Robert Preston, deputy editor of Railway Gazette International, said: “This [the success of the Madrid to Barcelona line] will add support to plans for a high-speed network in Britain. Spain is different to Britain geographically, but a high-speed line might bite into the air routes between London and Scotland.”

The Madrid-Barcelona line success story is being followed closely elsewhere. Ray LaHood, the US Transportation Secretary, made the same journey as Lord Adonis on the AVE to learn from the Spanish experience in preparation for the upgrading of America’s railways. President Obama has set aside $13 billion (£7.9 billion) in stimulus and budget funds for high-speed trains.

In Spain, the Socialist Government is expanding the high-speed network rapidly. Renfe plans that by 2020 everybody in the country will live within 50 kilometres of the network. However, the expansion comes at a cost: the Government plans to spend €119 billion (£106.5 billion) on infrastructure and millions more on trains.

Speed kings

1 TGV France, Lorraine to Champagne: distance 167.6km, speed 271.8kmh

2 TGV France, Lorraine Muese to Champagne: distance 99.8km, speed 260.3kmh

3 TGV France, St Pierre de Corps to Massy: distance 206.8km, speed 258.5kmh

4 Japan, Hiroshima to Kokura: distance 192km, speed 256kmh

5 Japan, Okayama to Hiroshima: distance 144.9km, speed 255.7kmh

Source: Railway Gazette International World Speed Survey 2009

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