INTRO: RENFE’s Long Distance business unit introduced Euromedservice totheBarcelona - Valencia - Alicante corridor on June 16, cuttingjourney times with a fleet of AVE high-speedtrainsets adapted for 1668mm gaugeoperation at up to 220 km/h
SPANISH National Railways has launched Euromed service from Barcelona. This comprises five daily return workings to Valencia calling at Tarragona and Castellón, with two continuing to Alicante. An additional working is scheduled from September. Journey times are 2h 55min to Valencia and 4h 20min to Alicante. These are expected to fall to 2h 15min and 3h 35min respectively on completion in 2002 of a Pts246·5bn programme to upgrade Renfe’s Mediterranean Corridor throughout for 220 km/h Euromed service.
On board facilities include a public telephone and areas specially adapted for users of mobile phones. Three channels of recorded music are provided at-seat, also used to broadcast sound for the in-car video monitors, which passengers can access using their own personal stereo headphones if they wish. One toilet per car is equipped with baby-changing facilities, and space for passengers in wheelchairs is provided.
With passengers presenting their tickets prior to boarding Euromed services, the on-board team comprises a train captain, catering supervisor, four attendants to serve at-seat meals in ’preferente’ (first) class and a bar steward. Catering is provided by Wagons-Lits; as well as free newspapers and at-seat meals, first class passengers have lounges at their disposal in Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante.
Broad gauge high speed
GEC Alsthom Transporte has built six Euromed trainsets to the AVE design developed for the 1435mm gauge Madrid - Sevilla high-speed route, adapted for 1668mm gauge and conventional signalling. To accommodate larger broad gauge bogies, Euromed cars ride higher than their AVE counterparts.
Each trainset comprises two power cars, three first class trailers, four ’turista’ (second class) cars and a bar/buffet. Total seating capacity is 325, of which 213 are in second class and 112 in first. New seating fabrics, carpets and curtains distinguish Euromed operated by the Long Distance business unit from the AVE trainsets of its High Speed counterpart. The bar car has also been modified for Euromed service. o
CAPTION: Infrastructure work on the Mediterranean Corridor has included construction of a new bridge over the River Ebro at Amposta
CAPTION: A card-operated payphone is at the disposal of Euromed customers
Euromed ’turista’ class features video as in AVE, but distinctive fabrics distinguish it from its Madrid - Sevilla counterpart
CAPTION: Euromed follows sections of the coast between Barcelona and Alicante
