Spanish Transport Minister: Spain Will Increase Train Speeds to 350 km/h, Matching China's Standards
Sputnik News, Madrid - On the 17th, Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente stated that Spain plans to increase the maximum speed of its high-speed rail network to 350 km/h, matching the standards of China's railways.
He said at an event organized by European Press Agency: "By setting a speed of 350 km/h on our railway network, we will be among the few countries in the world with a high-speed rail network operating at 350 km/h, along with China."
Puente pointed out that the Spanish government will invest approximately 6 billion euros in transportation infrastructure over the next four years.
He said the first phase will be the modernization of the Madrid-Barcelona line, with construction projects planned to start soon and expected to be completed in three years. Currently, the maximum speed of trains is 300 km/h, and the journey between Spain's two largest cities takes about two and a half hours. After the project is completed, the travel time will be reduced to under two hours.
The promotion of new aerodynamic sleepers will make it possible to increase speeds. These sleepers can reduce the pressure of air flow on the ballast, allowing trains to accelerate safely at higher speeds. Puente said this technology could enable speed increases without the need for new tracks, thereby increasing capacity and offering more train services at more affordable prices.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849076447204364/
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