ON OCTOBER 3 after an inter-governmental summit in Valencia, the transport ministers of Portugal and Spain announced that tenders would be called early next year for studies to determine the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of a high speed line from Madrid to Lisboa and Porto. The contract will be let by AVEP, the joint high speed project office formed last year by RAVE and GIF (RG 3.01 p148).

Route options via Badajoz, C