Spain announced plans on Monday to renovate the high-speed rail network between Madrid and Barcelona, aiming to raise the maximum operating speed to 350 kph (218 mph). Transport Minister Oscar Puente said at an event in Madrid that this upgrade would shorten travel time between the two cities, which together handle roughly 15 million passengers annually. The current journey takes nearly three hours, and the new target would reduce it to under two hours.

People stand on a platform as they wait for a commuter rail at Atocha train station in Madrid, Spain, June 14, 2017.

Puente said a 2.3-million-euro ($2.7 million) tender will open on Tuesday for feasibility studies. These studies will examine several options, including improving access to stations in Madrid and Barcelona and adding new rail sections to increase flexibility on the route. The aim is to create alternatives that allow trains to bypass congested areas and maintain consistent speeds along the line.

According to the transport ministry, a new train design developed by Spain’s state-owned rail administrator Adif may also support the goal of reaching 350 kph. The ministry said the design enhances aerodynamics and reduces damage by increasing the distance between the train and the gravel beneath the tracks. This improvement is expected to contribute to achieving the targeted speed while maintaining operational stability and safety.

In Europe, only Britain and Poland currently aim for similar speeds. Britain’s HS2 line, intended to connect London and Birmingham, has experienced delays and rising costs since its approval in 2012. Spain, meanwhile, has expanded its high-speed network steadily over recent years. According to European Commission statistics for 2023, Spain had around 3,190 km (1,982 miles) of the 8,556 km of high-speed rail lines installed across the European Union.

Since that time, Spain has added new high-speed lines in the northwestern Galicia region and the southeastern Murcia region. Official data shows these additions have increased network capacity to 4,091 km. The expansion supports the growing demand for domestic rail services, which has returned to levels recorded before the global pandemic. Data from the transport ministry indicates that high-speed rail usage rose from 32.4 million travellers in 2019 to 46.7 million in 2024.

Puente said he expected the renovation work to take around three years once construction begins. A spokesperson for the ministry did not comment on the expected duration of the feasibility studies. The project reflects Spain’s continued focus on enhancing domestic transport infrastructure and improving travel efficiency on its busiest intercity route.