The president of IAG warns that the impact of fuel on prices will last for years, even if the conflict ended today. For European tourists, the train seems the logical alternative: low emissions and comfort. But there is a problem. Spain functions as a railway island. Its high-speed network uses a different track gauge than the European standard, forcing transfers at the border. Traveling without a plane is possible, but it depends on the origin, the time, and the willingness for the journey.
The railway island: the Iberian gauge as a technical barrier 🚧
The Spanish track gauge (1,668 mm) differs from the European UIC standard (1,435 mm), a legacy of a historical design to prevent invasions. This requires changing trains at the French border, except on high-speed lines like the one in Figueres, which does use UIC gauge. However, the direct connection with Paris remains limited. While France advances with the TGV, Spain keeps its network isolated. The technical solution exists (variable gauge trains), but its implementation is partial and slow.
Traveling by train to Spain: the operatic tour of the gauge change 🚉
Imagine arriving at the French border, getting off the train, picking up your luggage, crossing the platform, and boarding another train that looks like a twin but is not the same. All while the local conductor smiles and says: welcome to Spain, here we change tracks like others change socks. If you are lucky, the transfer takes 20 minutes. If not, you have time to make friends with the station staff. And to think that all this is to save fuel. You might as well check in your patience.