Holes in the great train network | Presseurop (English)

Each day, a train 750 metres long leaves Barcelona station in Spain for Lyons in France. It moves at 40 kilometres per hour, which is slow, but speed isn't the primary virtue of rail freight. It will arrive at its destination in fifteen hours, a journey time only dreamed of a year ago. The line is aging and, in particular, there is a problem with the rail gauge which required moving the freight onto new cars at the French border. Madrid operates full steam ahead

The Spaniards worked at record speed to fix the rails and, in December, a first convoy of container cars crossed the Pyrenees. Scheduled at three per week at first, there are now seven per week, thus contributing to lower air pollution and reduced road traffic. Today Spain is considering doubling the convoy timetable, convinced that supply will create demand.