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> Variable-gauge trains are things we can build, and as a matter of fact there are a bunch of them crossing the French-Spanish border every day. The high speed
by ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
> Variable-gauge trains are things we can build, and as a matter of fact there are a bunch of them crossing the French-Spanish border every day.
The high speed lines are all standard gauge in both countries.
At the crossing between Puigcerdà and La Tour de Carol the Catalan regional train goes one stop into France on an Iberian gauge line which ends there (English Wikipedia needs to be updated to reflect this). At the crossing between Cerbère and Portbou it's the opposite, with a French train going one stop into Catalonia on a standard gauge line which ends there.
- kposehn 4y agoRenfe also operates some variable gauge trains on the high speed network that radiate out into the Iberian gauge lines to serve smaller cities. That said I don’t believe any cross the border to France.
- ThePowerOfFuet 4y agoWhy would they put slow trains on the high speed line? That sounds like a great way to make the AVE suck.
- kergonath 4y ago> The high speed lines are all standard gauge in both countries. This is not what I was referring to. Variable gauge (Talgo) trains go through gauge changers at the border without going to the high speed Spanish lines. This has been done since 1969, and that’s how you can have a single train going from Barcelona to Montpellier (and then Geneva, back in the day). It really is not rocket science and has been done for 60 years now.
- ThePowerOfFuet 4y agoCan you please provide a train number that goes from BCN to Montpellier that isn't an SNCF TGV Euroduplex? I have been on an Intercités de Nuit from Paris to BCN (Estació de França), going through the gauge changing building at Portbou. Alas, that service was deleted when the TGV became homologated for cross-border service around 2013, and AFAIK there is no further passenger traffic which uses it.
- kergonath 4y ago> Can you please provide a train number that goes from BCN to Montpellier that isn't an SNCF TGV Euroduplex? Damn you’re right, the track to Barcelona is now high speed standard gauge. I used to go from Montpellier to Spain very regularly in the late 2000s, the choice was then between a variable-gauge Talgo, or a change at Figueres.
- ThePowerOfFuet 4y agoYep, there just isn't the demand for slow service when the TGV is just that much better. I look forward to the continuing return of night trains in Europe, though!