The AVE reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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AVE

AVE, short for Alta Velocidad Española (lit. "Spanish High Speed" but also "bird" in Spanish), is the name of the Spanish high speed train system. Essentially a repackaged TGV Atlantique, the AVE can achieve speeds of up to 300 km/h on dedicated track. Unlike the rest of the Spanish broad gauge network, the AVE uses European standard gauge, permitting direct connections outside Spain in the future. All AVE trains are operated by RENFE (Spanish State Railways).

Table of contents
1 History and extensions
2 Lines
3 External link

History and extensions

The AVE started running between Madrid and Seville on April 21, 1992, a distance of 471 km. Construction for a high-speed track connecting Madrid and Barcelona is under way, with the first section from Madrid to Lleida opened on October 11, 2003 and remainder currently planned for 2005. Construction of a segment to Valladolid has started, and there are firm plans for extending the system to Valencia, Alicante and eventually to interconnect with the French TGV network as well.

Lines

Currently, four lines make up the AVE system:

In Madrid, AVE operates out of the Atocha train station.

External link