James BryceRENFE has been forced to put a halt to one of its newest high speed train services after it emerged only nine passengers were using the ‘ghost train’ each day.
The failed AVE route connecting Toledo with Albacete and Cuenca was inaugurated last December and was seen as one of the links that helped Spain overtake France as the country operating Europe’s biggest high speed rail network.
But Renfe now admits the project was unsuccessful and that operating a ‘ghost train’ was no longer feasible.
“Renfe feels the pain when we transport only steel,” said a spokesman, highlighting the fact the route cost 18,000 euros a day to operate.
Interesting “economic” decision to propose and pay for this rail link costing millions of Euros – who was involved?