Spain 's High Speed Train running from Valencia to Madrid in 2010

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Spain 's High Speed Train the A.V.E. to Connect Valencia with Madrid in 2010

Added: (Feb 2008)

Agreement has finally been reached after 4 years of arduous negotiations between the relevant political bodies regarding the arrival of Spain's much heralded high speed train the A.V.E. Central government, Valencia's Regional government and the city's Town Hall have agreed that the A.V.E will reach Valencia in 2010, initially above ground and from 2014 onwards it will be underground. Valencia 's main railway station "Estacion del Norte" which was built in 1917 and designed by Demetrio Ribes will become the new A.V.E. station's  grand entrance hall  leading to a twelve storey crystal tower which will serve as the new A.V.E. station. The station's railyard will be placed underground and will have a park named " Central Park " put in its place.

At present travel time from Madrid to Valencia is 3.5 hours. With the A.V.E. the travel time will be drastically reduced to 1 hour and 25 minutes resulting in a huge increase in visitors to Valencia . Last December saw the inauguration of the Madrid Malaga and Madrid Valladolid lines which resulted in an increse in people travelling of 100% and 75%  respectively in the interim. Valencia at present is getting in the region of 2 million visitors a year and is the fastest growing city in Europe re tourists 10% of whom visit the city via cruise ships a market that was almost non existent just 10 years ago. The arrival of the A.V.E. will not only see a marked increase in Spanish tourists visiting the city but will see workers commuting to and from Valencia as well as making the city more attractive to tourists who at present don't have direct flights to Valencia but who can reach Madrid direct.

 The new A.V.E. station will measure 166,000 sqms, 46,000 sqms of which will be given over to the station itself with 32,000 sqms given over to multi usage, 11,000 sqms to offices, 7,000 sqms to terraces, 6,000 sqms to coffee shops and restaurants and 61,000 sqms for parking which will allow 1,880 cars to park in the station. There will be 12 underground lines served by 6 platforms at a depth of 22 metres. Metro connections as well as bus and taxi services will also be available within the station grounds. All profits from the commercial exploitation of the building will be ploughed back into the financing of the development with work on the project scheduled to commence next April.

 This is more great news for all Valencia city property owners especially those who have bought property in the city's most sought after areas. With prices in Madrid more than 50% more expensive than in Valencia (€4,262 vis a vis €2,849 at the end of 2007 according to www.idealista.com it will make financial sense for those Valencians who presently live and work in Madrid to return to Valencia where a much better quality of life is available and if they already have property in Madrid the arrival of the A.V.E. will allow them to cash out and buy a much superior property for the same money and even less in Valencia.

 The arrival of the "European Grand Prix " in August will add cachet to the city globally and make all prime valencia property all the more attractive especially prime valencia  F 1 property. All the more reason to use the services of the city's premier property search and property investment company namely Valencia Property Hound.

Article by Dermot Quinn, Valencia Property Hound Ltd