Conde Nast Traveler Concierge.com

« A Secret Island Paradise | Main | Alaska By Cruise Ship Or Ferry? »

April 19, 2007

High-Speed Rail Travel in Spain

Spain_train_perrinpost
A high-speed train in the Spanish countryside.
Photo: RailEurope

By Brook Wilkinson

I ducked out of the office early yesterday to attend a press conference on high-speed train routes in Europe, and I left itching to plan a trip to Spain. Why? Because by the end of this year, travelers will be able to hop on a train in Madrid and hop off in Barcelona, 373 miles away, less than 4 hours later -- and just 2.5 hours later, if you wait till late 2008 to make the trip. (Need suggestions for what to see in either city? Readers who still have their June 2006 issue of Conde Nast Traveler can refer to the "graphic narrative" we published on Barcelona, and anyone can read our September 2006 story on Madrid online.)

There could be a hitch, though. I tried to make that very same trip between Spain political and cultural capitals 7 years ago, but a train workers' strike foiled my plans and I had to buy a plane ticket instead -- and no amount of technology can ever stop the logistical-nightmare-inducing scourge of strikes in Europe.

Comments

High speed trains in Europe - easy info
to obtain. But what about the new world's highest (altitude) train route.
China to Tibet. Posted message weeks ago
and still no intrepid amateur or professional traveler has responded tomy plea for help. Help again.

click to post a comment >
Wendy Perrin
Travel tips from Condé Nast Traveler Magazine's Wendy Perrin. 
Freebies forbidden here! You can trust me because I accept no payments or gifts from any travel company. Learn more.
Get in Touch
wendy_perrin@cntraveler.com
Twitter: wendyperrin
Travel question? Ask Wendy.
Air Fares and Routes
Air Fare Search
Airline Seat Pros and Cons
Bathrooms Worldwide
Business Travel Advice
ChowHound
Currency Converter
Doctors Overseas
English Newspapers Worldwide
European Hotels
European Road Signs
Flight Arrival Times
Frequent-Flier Mileage Advice
Holidays Around the World
Hotel User Reviews
Priceline Bidding Advice
Travel Health Advice
Arthur Frommer Online
Boarding Area
BootsnAll Travel
Cheapest Destinations (Tim Leffel)
Consumerist
The Cranky Flier
The Cruise Log
The Daily Traveler
Don's Place (Don George)
Ed Perkins (Smarter Travel)
Elliott (Chris Elliott)
Family Travel: See The World With Your Kids
Flyertalk
Freakonomics
Gadling
The Gate
Globorati
Going Places
Peter Greenberg
Gridskipper
HotelChatter
Hotel Hotsheet
Jaunted
Joe Sent Me (Joe Brancatelli)
Joe Sharkey At Large
Johnny Jet
Killing Batteries
Lonely Planet Travel Blog
The Middle Seat (Scott McCartney)
Rick Steves: Blog Gone Europe
Seat2B (Joe Brancatelli)
This Just In
Today in the Sky
TravBuddy
Travel Savvy Mom
Treehugger
Upgrade: Travel Better
Vagabonding (Rolf Potts)
Vagabondish
Viator Travel Blog
View From the Wing
WorldHum
Published in August 2008. Prices and other information were accurate at press time, but are subject to change. Please confirm details with individual establishments before planning your trip.
Traveler Magazine

My Concierge

My Concierge.com

Planning a trip? Start here
  • Save the information you find while researching your next vacation
  • Create a Trip Plan with your favorite hotels, restaurants, and more
  • Upload and share photos with fellow travelers
Join Now Learn More ›

Already a member? Sign In

Advertisement

Advertisement

I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Mobile Terms and Conditions.

Concierge Mobile: Save our travel info to your mobile

I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Mobile Terms and Conditions.

Subscribe to our free RSS feeds:

Get the latest destinations picks, hot hotel lists, travel deals and blog posts automatically added to your newsreader or your personalized homepage.

Learn More ›

Special Advertisement

Contests & Sweepstakes

Omniture events in request: