The Guardian and Treehugger report on a new high-speed link between Madrid and Barcelona. The Ave covers the 410 miles between Madrid and Barcelona in just 2 hours and 35 minutes.
From The Guardian: The aim is to have 10,000km (6,200 miles) of high-speed track in Spain by 2020, meaning that 90% of the population will be no more than 30 miles from a station through which the train passes…trains produce at least four times less carbon dioxide per mile than planes, and even less when compared with short-haul flights. Spain is preparing itself for a future in which there may be limits on the number of flights a person is allowed to take, particularly within the EU.
Given the choice I will happily take a train over a plane any day. How about you?