Rail transport in Spain operates on four rail gauges and services are operated by a variety of private and public operators. The total route length in 2012 was 16,026 km (10,182 km electrified).[2]
Most railways are operated by Renfe Operadora; metre and narrow-gauge lines are operated by FEVE and other carriers in individual autonomous communities. It is proposed and planned to build or convert more lines to standard gauge,[3] including some dual gauging of broad-gauge lines, especially where these lines link to France, including platforms to be raised.
Spain is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Spain is 71.
The history of rail transport in Spain begins in the 19th century. In 1848, a railway line between Barcelona and Mataró was inaugurated,[1] although a line in Cuba (then a Spanish overseas province) connecting Havana and Bejucal had already opened in 1837.[2] In 1852 the first narrow gauge line was built, in 1863 a line reached the Portuguese border. By 1864 the Madrid-Irun line had been opened, and the French border reached.[1]
In 1911 the first line to be electrified was the Gergal-Santa Fe line[1]
In 1941 RENFE was created.[1]
The last steam locomotive was withdrawn in 1975, in 1986 the maximum speed on the railways was raised to 160 km/h, and in 1992 the Madrid Seville high speed line opened,[1] beginning the process of building a nationwide high speed network. {wikipedia}
19 июл 2023
