SPAIN's infrastructure manager Adif reopened the Figueres - Barcelona high-speed line on Saturday evening, five full days after the line was closed following severe flooding in the 7km tunnel below Girona.

INTERNATIONAL high-speed services between France and Spain have been suspended since September 29 after heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in the 7km tunnel beneath Girona on the Figueres – Barcelona high-speed line.

THE Spanish Ministry of Public Works and Transport has published its draft budget for 2015 this week and once again funds allocated to rail investments will exceed those for the department's other areas of responsibility, notably roads and air transport.

THE first prototype of Talgo's new-generation Avril high-speed train has begun dynamic testing on the Spanish high-speed network.

LIGHT metro trains started commercial operation today in Malaga, making it the seventh city in Spain to have a metro. The eight-year project cost €594m to complete.

SPAIN's high-speed network infrastructure manager Adif AV has announced that it will invite bids for a €342m single 10-year contract to maintain all the telecommunication systems across the entire high-speed rail network.

FRANCE's minister of transport, Mr Frédéric Cuvilier, has approved the staging of three public inquires in October related to the so-called Grand Southwest Railway Project (GPSO).

BARCELONA Metropolitan Transport (TMB) is installing new energy-saving technologies at Passeig de Grácia station on Metro Line 3 as part of the European Union-funded SEAM4US project, which is developing systems to reduce non-traction energy consumption at metro stations by at least 5%.

BASQUE metre-gauge operator EuskoTren has awarded CAF a €150m contract to supply 28 three-car EMUs, which will be used on Bilbao metro Line 3 and will also replace some of the oldest trains in its current fleet.

THE Spanish Government last week confirmed details of its plans for the initial opening of the long distance passenger rail market, announcing that a single company will be allowed to compete against Renfe on a single group of lines for at least seven years. After this period, only those specific lines will be fully-opened to competition.