Spain’s New AV350 Plan to Boost Madrid-Barcelona High-Speed Rail, Cutting Journey Times and Enhancing Capacity

Published on November 22, 2025

Spain’s Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has announced a transformative project aimed at boosting the speed of the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Barcelona. Known as the AV350 plan, the initiative seeks to increase the maximum speed of services from 300km/h to 350km/h, making it one of the fastest high-speed rail systems in Europe, rivalled only by China.

This ambitious upgrade is set to significantly reduce the travel time between Madrid and Barcelona, currently taking 2 hours and 37 minutes on a non-stop train, to under 2 hours. This will make the Madrid-Barcelona line one of the most efficient and competitive high-speed routes in Europe, carrying over 14 million passengers in 2024.

The AV350 plan is not just about cutting journey times; it also aims to expand the capacity of Spain’s busiest high-speed line, allowing more passengers to benefit from the improvements.

Key Components of the AV350 Plan

The core of the AV350 project lies in a series of cutting-edge upgrades, including track enhancements and innovative new infrastructure projects. A notable feature of this plan is the introduction of new aerodynamic sleepers, developed through collaboration between Spain’s infrastructure manager, Adif, and engineering consultancy Sener. These new sleepers are designed to reduce the downforce in the ballast bed by 21%, preventing loose ballast from causing potential damage to trains moving at high speeds. This will support the safe increase in maximum operating speeds by 12%.

Alongside the sleepers, further aerodynamic refinements to the trains themselves are expected to ensure that the system can achieve the new target speed of 350km/h, providing a smoother and safer journey for passengers.

Enhancing Accessibility to Madrid and Barcelona

The AV350 plan also focuses on improving access to both Madrid and Barcelona, two of Spain’s key transportation hubs. In Madrid, one of the most significant upgrades will involve a new route that allows high-speed trains from Barcelona to access the Chamartín station in the north of the city, bypassing the existing tunnel that connects Atocha station to Chamartín.

The plan is also studying a new connection between the Madrid-Barcelona line and the Madrid-Valladolid high-speed rail. This connection will allow trains from Barcelona to reach northern destinations in Spain without needing to pass through the Chamartín station. The addition of new infrastructure will increase overall efficiency and reduce congestion on the lines leading into Madrid.

Further Infrastructure Improvements

In Madrid, the proposed project also includes plans for a new high-speed station in Parla, located south of the city. This station would provide direct services from Andalusia to Catalonia, reducing travel time to just one hour and serving a population of 6 million people.

Additionally, a new rail line will be constructed in Catalonia, connecting Lleida to the La Sagrera station in Barcelona. This extension will help alleviate congestion on the heavily trafficked Camp de Tarragona to Barcelona Sants section of the Madrid-Barcelona line. This region is expected to experience increased demand due to the Mediterranean Corridor, which will eventually link Barcelona with Algeciras.

As part of the infrastructure improvements in Barcelona, the project also includes the possibility of an intermediate station to serve the El Prat airport. The Ministry of Transport will carry out feasibility studies for these projects with tenders for two contracts valued at €2.3 million.

Future Plans for Expanding Capacity

These improvements are part of a larger vision to free up capacity along the Madrid-Barcelona route, particularly on the congested Camp de Tarragona to Barcelona Sants section. By reducing traffic congestion, Spain hopes to make room for more high-speed services, including those that connect Barcelona to other major cities along the Mediterranean Corridor.

The overall aim of the AV350 project is not only to reduce travel times between Madrid and Barcelona but also to enhance Spain’s overall rail network, making high-speed travel a more attractive and viable option for millions of passengers.

Conclusion

The AV350 project is set to revolutionise high-speed rail travel between Madrid and Barcelona, cutting journey times, increasing capacity, and improving access to both cities. With its focus on advanced technologies, infrastructure improvements, and strategic expansions, Spain is positioning itself as a leader in high-speed rail travel, offering the fastest services in Europe alongside China. As the plan progresses, passengers will enjoy faster, more efficient, and more accessible high-speed train services across one of Europe’s most important transport corridors.