International travellers visiting Spain will have faster and more direct rail connections in the coming years. The Ministry of Transport has announced the AV350 project, which will increase the speed of the Madrid–Barcelona high‑speed train to 350 km/h and cut the journey time to under two hours. This corridor is one of the most heavily used in the country and accounts for 85% of transport between the two cities, a key axis for those combining both capitals in the same trip.
The plan includes new high‑speed stations designed to improve urban access and connections with other means of transport. In Madrid, Parla station will facilitate travel to the south and help to decongest Atocha and Chamartín, while in Barcelona El Prat station will connect directly with Josep Tarradellas airport, simplifying the link between international flights and long‑distance trains.
The studies also consider new access routes towards the northeast of Spain, which will cut travel times to destinations such as Lleida and support the continuation of the route towards the French border. For international tourists these improvements will mean shorter journeys, more frequencies and a more efficient rail network for travelling around the country.