The next, December 18 will open the line linking Madrid to Albacete, Cuenca and Valencia
I'm sorry, I love trains

That's great!!! While I'm always happy for faster service, the newer, (much) higher AVE prices always take some of the joy out of it.

Saludos, MadridMan

Tickets available tomorrow at Renfe. One way: 79,80 euros (online).

Better deals for early bookers: tarifa estrella (40% off - 7 days in advance), tarifa web (60% off - 15 days in advance).

Just checked. The AVE trains still aren't showing on RENFE.es but will check tomorrow as Antonio mentions. Now, just the fast-but-not-as-fast-as-the-AVE Alaris trains, taking about 3 hours 50 minutes. There are a couple "W" (WEB) fares left - the earliest and the latest train from Madrid to Valencia - at 19 Euros one way. Otherwise, the prices are generally 47.50 Euros one way.

The new AVE train trip from Madrid-Valencia will take 1 hour and 35 minutes. Wow, that's considerably faster than the already "swift" Alaris trains - taking 3h 50m. Doubt the AVE "W" fares will be anywhere near 19 Euros as it is now - probably double that. Let's see. Which means more people will be taking the bus to save (A LOT of) money.

I wonder how many (if ANY) of the "cheaper" Alaris trains they'll keep for this route after "hooking up" the AVE trains? Shame they have to charge us nearly double to save an hour or so.

Saludos, MadridMan

Tickets available now at Renfe. Cheapest fare ("tarifa web") at 31,90 euros one way.

good news for the train travelers, its about time they put Valencia in touch faster. Thanks for the news Antonio.

31.90 Euros isn't a bad price for one-way. Shame they didn't leave a few of the Alaris trains on the line, however, at 19 Euros one-way.

And the above are the "W" (Web) prices, too. If you're not quick you'll have to pay the regular prices - 80 Euros one-way! Train travel is quickly becoming travel for the well-to-do/rich. The buses will be more crowded than ever - which is great for the bus companies!

Saludos, MadridMan

FYI: The bus line making this route is Avanzabus (formerly called "Auto-Res"). The Express bus takes 4 hours and costs almost 34 Euros one-way.

So if get the "W" price of 32 Euros one-way for the AVE consider yourself fortunate.

A long, detailed blog entry (in Spanish) with lots of photos can be found at the EsPorMadrid.es website.

Saludos, MadridMan

Well, we have BEACH with AVE to Valencia,in one hour and forty minutes, now a cheaper ticket,PLEASE Pepe, and ...all FANTANSTIC...http://www.thereader.es/

Yes saw the welcome and all in teleMadrid TV nice and clean and only 1h30 so I imagine they will have more beach. Its about time.

Anything wrong with this picture?: U.S. has 'Boots on the ground' in Iraq & Afghanistan; but we can't run a railroad. We need to change our priorities. Spain has overtaken us.
Merry Christmas to all who frequent this Board ...

They expect 4,5 millions passengers on this line, and its doable. Now my cousins in El Saler will be after me when passing by Madrid ,damn !!! ::)

Simply fantastic!
I tried myself the new train to Valencia. I'll tell you my experiences.
I bought two return tickets on the web, in advance of course, one for the Christmas weekend and the other one for the New Year's Eve weekend. I paid 63.90 euros for each return ticket.

The trains are completely new. What a wonderful feeling is to travel in a brand new coach, it's like when you drive for a first time your new car, the smell, the feeling. It's so clean and comfortable, seats are a bit bigger than the ones in an ordinary train.
The train left on time. It cannot reach a high speed for the first 60 or 70km. until it is away from Madrid, then it reaches 290-300km per hour (you can see it on a panel).
Is beautyful crossing the world biggest wineyards of La Mancha, while having a cup of coffee at bar coach. Then landscapes change into pine forests as whe aproach the UNESCO world heritage city of Cuenca, what a pity, we cannot see the city from the train. In a few minutes we crossed the Contreras reservoir, wow! it looks so small from here. After a few tunnels we pass near the dof Utiel-Requena, minutes later they anounce Valencia staion. Only one hour and thirty two minute after leaving Madrid.
They have built a new temporary railway station 500 yards away from the beautyful art decó stile Valencia main station , built in 1906. Thre is shutle bus conecting the two stations.
There is a proyect to expand the old station, as they did in Madrid Atocha, but for the moment is has to wait the economic crisis ends.