Fernando Puente

SPAIN's national train operator Renfe is ready to launch commercial services on the country's newest high-speed line next month.

SPAIN's state-owned train operating company, Renfe, and the country's infrastructure manager, Adif, have started passenger service tests on the mixed traffic high-speed line between Barcelona and the French border.

A new 2.4km-long, dual gauge single track access to the Port of Barcelona opened last week. The line connects the new Prat dock with Adif's 1668mm-gauge network and the Barcelona - Figueres - Perpignan mixed-traffic 1435mm-gauge high-speed line through the Can Tunis rail yard.

SPAIN's Ministry of Public Works and Transport's 2013 draft budget published last week includes a 15.6% cut in infrastructure investment for all transport modes in line with the Spain's deficit target for 2012.

SPAIN's state-owned train operator Renfe has announced that its train leasing subsidiary, which will be established over the next few months, will be allocated a fleet of 26 high-speed trains for lease to new operators entering the soon-to-be-liberalised high-speed market.

THE Spanish Competition Commission (CNC) has attacked the Spanish government over its rail industry liberalisation programme, criticising what it sees as the slow pace and the short reach of the latest reforms and calling for the complete abolition of state-owned train operator Renfe.