Forums > Social Chat > AVE Alta Velocidad España
Login/Join to ParticipateHOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
So I did this in Spain (the video gets good at about 21 seconds):
)
And it gets you from Madrid to Barcelona non-stop in 2:30 (published 2:41, but it's always 10 minutes early). It leaves exactly as scheduled. It arrives within 15 minutes of when scheduled or your ticket is free. I arrived at Madrid Atocha station 15 minutes prior to departure. There is no metal detector (X-ray bags, that's all). There is no "fasten your seatbelts." There is no "seatbacks and traytables in the full upright and locked position." There is no "please turn off and stow all electronic devices." The train simply pulls out of the station, gets onto the relevant track, and then starts to accelerate to 300kph. It feels like floating on air, but less turbulence. And then we got to Barcelona Sants station and was in my hotel room 20 minutes later. No baggage claim. I *LOVED* it.
And Iberia (the Spanish airline) just *HATES* it because it's taken over half their business!
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
OK, nobody else thinks this is cool?
Y'guys are a buncha losers.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
Nah, it's just that us Europeans are all so used to high-speed trains :P
"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Hah. England doesn't have them, either (except Eurostar). In fact, few English-speaking countries do have them...
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
yeah, but we have them in Germany. Maybe not so conveniently non-stop between the 2 major cities, but then we don't really HAVE 2 major cities. And the English are used to getting their nose rubbed in just how useless their train services are by their own media plus French plus Germans plus Spanish
I'd like to go on the Japanese bullet trains some time.
"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Your trains aren't half as useless as American ones. 2 days to get from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
TWO DAYS.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
You're kidding me! No wonder everyone who doesn't want to risk sitting next to some smelly traveller from Europe on a Greyhound for hours is driving.
"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Yes, you could wind up next to a Frenchman. *looks for noseplug*
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
Lambretta Fanatic
4,998 posts
Location: United Kingdom
The wonders of modern day public transport...
Frenchman, is that the same as a drunk Italian?... on a 21 hour train journey?... cos that sucked.
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