A QUARTER of a million tickets for long-distance high-speed train journeys have been launched at just €25 each to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the service, known as the AVE.
The Alta Velocidad Española ('Spanish High-Speed') is run by State rail board RENFE and was launched in 1992.
For the rest of this year, 25,000 tickets at €25 will be sold on the 25th day of every calendar month, staying with the anniversary theme.
The first-ever AVE – an acronym which plays on the Spanish word for bird, ave – was launched on April 21, 1992, linking Madrid and Sevilla, and since then has transported 357 million passengers.
Where the AVE exists – and, mostly, it connects Madrid with some of Spain's remotest areas, ignoring the more crucial tourist belts – it cuts the average train journey by over 50%.
As an example, the AVE in Valencia reaches the capital in between 90 minutes and two hours – a journey that takes around three-and-a-half to four hours non-stop by motorway.
Also from Valencia, the AVE runs to Barcelona, but the fact there is no train at all linking Valencia with Alicante along the coast through one of Spain's most densely-populated and touristy areas continues to be a bug-bear for the regional government and residents.
Spanish president Mariano Rajoy has announced major investment in AVE lines over the next few years, although the Valencia-Alicante connection – even a slow train – has been rejected out of hand by his government.
AVE trains are nearly always at least 85% full and 95.6% of them are on time.
As a bonus, anyone in possession of a ticket who misses their train will be given a fresh pass for the next connection at no charge if they apply within the hour.
