A journey that currently takes at least 10 hours will be completed in just six hours within a decade. This Wednesday, November 5, the European Commission approved a global transport package whose measures include, among others, the implementation of a high-speed train that will link Madrid and Paris in that time.
The measure is part of the new High Speed Rail Action Plan, which aims to accelerate “the deployment of Europe’s high-speed rail network” and boost “investment in renewable and low-carbon fuels for the aviation and waterborne sectors”.
The plan aims to reduce travel times and make rail a more attractive alternative to the more polluting short-haul air travel by 2040. In the case of the train linking the capitals of Spain and France , it is scheduled to start operating in 2035 and the route will pass through the Basque Country.
In the words of Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, this package is a step towards a “European transport system that is cleaner, more resilient and more affordable for citizens”.
Madrid and Lisbon, connected by high-speed train in 3 hours
In the case of Spain, this plan will not only affect the Madrid-Paris route: it is expected that with the implementation of this improved European high-speed rail network, the distance separating us from our neighbors in Portugal will also be considerably reduced.
In figures: it is estimated that by 2034 the trip between Madrid and Lisbon can be covered in just 3 hours. The historic demand has been simmering for decades, partly because of the decision on the route of the future high-speed train. You can find more information and context about the project in this article.